H.—44.

Flax-milling. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1931. 1932. 1933. Establishments (number) . . .. 22 17 20 Employees (number) .. .. 177 135 213 Wages paid .. .. .. £26,223 £13,198 £27,349 Value of output .. .. . • £47,722 £33,878 £54,658 Value added by manufacture .. £39,417 £24,399 £38,591 Rope and Twine Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1931. 1932. 1933. Establishments (number) .... 6 6 5 Employees (number) .. .. 225 205 214 Wages paid .. .. .. £38,296 £35,304 £34,684 Value of output .. .. .. £160,401 £121,732 £144,502 Value added by manufacture .. £75,841 £64,831 £72,654 Substantial improvement is shown by the above statistics for the flaxmilling industry when compared with the two previous years. Exports also show an increase of 552 tons, secured, however, at lower prices, the total amount received being approximately the same as last year with a lower tonnage. Export statisticsYear. Tons. £ 1927 .. .. •• •• 19,600 535,526 1928 .. •• ■• 15,683 394,450 1929 14,720 379,942 1930 .. .. • ■ •• 9,493 221,923 1931 .. .. .. •• 2,398 38,407 1932 .. •• •• •• 3,850 47,312 1933 4,402 47,632 s, Eope and twT££ ma king statistics show an improvement, and indications point to an increased turnover for the ensuing y"ēāir~~~f}lothing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March— 19§k 1932. 1933 - Establishments (number) .. 244 244 Employees (number) .. .. 7,690 7,155 7,616 Wages rtaid •• £916,045 £784,668 £807,206 Value oi output .. .. £2,597,928 £2,153,461. _ £2,400,599 Value added by manufacture .. £1, 278, 801 £1,109,276 £1,188, Imports, calendar years — Apparel and ready - made SiHI £1,161,962 £8«,030 £763,76, A distinct improvement in number of employees, amount of wages paid, and value of output is a pleasing feature of the statistics for the 1932-33 period A number of factories report improving conditions during the past year, with an increase m number of employees. Agricultural and Dairy Machinery and Implement. Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st, March— 1931. 1932 ' 1933 "37 Establishments (number) .. .. 32 32 Employees (number) .. . • 850 ®05 Wages mid . •• £179,137 £97,761 £97,094 Value oi output .. .. »74,721 £280,751 £329,«6 Value added by manufacture £301,722 £147,967 £7 , A decided improvement in this industry is shown by the 1933 figures when compared with the previous years. Manufacturers report an increased demand for agricultural implements following increase in price of wool. The trade in spare parts has been a, feature of trading conditions, farmers retaining old machines instead of purchasing new ones, which are urgently required m many cases. Woollen-manufacturing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March— 1931. 1932 ' in Establishments (number) . . . • 10 JO Employees (number) .. .. 2,237 2,216 2,349 Wases t)aid ■ £328,826 £300,399 £316,352 ?B output ',: ~ ~ £896,677 £802,105 £888,6« Value added by manufacture .. £571,926 £541,044 , The figures for 1932-33 show an all-round increase. The number of employees increased by 133, wages paid by £15,953, and value of output by £86,441. As the period under review was one of lowpriced wool and woollen products, the quantity of woollen goods produced was substantially m excess of the quantity produced in 1931-32 to provide the increase m total value.

25