IL—44.

Agricultural and Dairy Machinery and Implement Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) .... 32 37 37 Employees (number) .. .. .. 505 542 532 Wages paid £97,761 £97,094 £95,301 Value of output .. .. .. £280,751 £329,476 £338,049 Value added by manufacture .. .. £147,967 £171,475 £179,032 South Island factories reports for the current year show that sales of agricultural machinery have increased by substantial percentages. The Auckland manufacturers of dairying machinery state that sales are slightly higher than the previous year. Woollen-manufacturing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1932. 1933, 1934. Establishments (number) .. .. 10 10 12 Employees (number) .. .. .. 2,216 2,349 2,466 Wages paid.. .. .. .. £300,399 £316,352 £326,156 Value of output .. .. .. £802,105 £888,546 £976,813 Value added by manufacture .. .. £541,044 £564,936 £601,140 South Island mills report a general increase in sales, but competition has kept profits at approximately the same level. One mill reports a substantial increase in the number of persons employed. The following table shows the imports of materials which compete with the products of New Zealand woollen-mills :—

A comparison of this table with woollen-mills production statistics shows that factory production increased by £88,267, but imported woollen piece-goods outdistanced this figure by a recorded increase of £118,938. Artificial and pure silk imports increased in same period by £150,636. Printing and Publishing. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) .. 355 362 366 Employees (number) .. .. 7,610 7,453 7,744 Wages paid .. .. .. £1,573,670 £1,447,735 £1,444,132 Value of output .. .. £3,772,323 £3,473,987 £3,525,188 Value added by manufacture .. £2,791,803 £2,540,824 £2,594,529 The industry generally shows signs of improvement, although competition from price-cutting is preventing a relative increase in profits. Brush and Broom Making. Official statistics, year ended 31st March — 1932. 1933. 1934. Establishments (number) . . . . 15 13 15 Employees (number) .. .. .. 209 219 240 Wages paid ... ' .. .. .. £31,291 £33,987 £34,968 Value of output .. .. .. £102,219 £97,470 £102,474 Value added by manufacture .. .. £57,168 £54,981 £56,052 Imports, calendar years — Brushes, brush ware, and brooms . . £27,884 £32,341 £38,981 The South Island manufacturers report an increase in the value of sales up to 15 per cent., and also in the number of employees. The statistics above show that the value of output increased by £5,004, and imports by £6,640.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,210 copies), £39.

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington. —1935.

Price 9d.]

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Piece-goods. 1932. 1933. 1934. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) Artificial and pure silk.. .. .. 740,430 725,078 875,714 Woollen .. .. .. .. 467,340 535,923 654,861 Cotton and linen .. .. .. 1,369,344 1,467,144 1,471,741 Totals .. .. .. 2,577,114 2,728,145 3,002,316