3—H. 44,

H.—44,

NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS. A feature of the past year has been the increasing degree of co-operation maintained between the Department and the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation and the District associations. It will be recalled that shortly after the passing of the Industrial Efficiency Act the Hon. the Minister of Industries and Commerce and the Bureau of Industry expressed the hope that manufacturers would work together to an increasing extent, particularly by the formation of trade groups. It was felt that by such "a course discussions between State organizations on the one hand and industry on the other would be facilitated and placed upon a better basis. It is obvious that it is far more advantageous for a State Department to hear representations from an industry as a whole rather than from individuals, who may advance divergent attitudes capable, however, of being unified by discussion with other operators in the particular industry. This co-operation between the State and industrial groups has been principally evident in regard to various representations made to the Bureau of Industry and the Industries Committee, both these bodies maintaining very close contact throughout the year with the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation. For some weeks subsequent to the introduction of the Import Control Regulations meetings between the Industries Committee and various industrial groups were held almost daily, and in some cases several times a day. It is obvious that in such a way the Committee was more readily able to judge in a comparatively short time the productive capacity of industry than by inquiries made from individual producers throughout the Dominion. , • • Any representations made by the Federation are, of course based upon submissions made and data collected by the associations in the four principal districts. Once again the Department has experienced readv co-operation from these district manufacturers' associations. It is quite evident that the work of the association in each centre has been a live force in achieving industrial organization in the particular district and thus making possible a greater degree of organization from the national point of view. Most of the associations report increased membership, and it is noteworthy m this connection that Canterbury enrolled sixty-two new members since the previous annual meeting. All the associations report increased activity in the various trade groups, which meet to discuss their problems whether of local or national significance. Of considerable importance during the year have been the publicity campaigns adopted by the various associations in order to stimulate the public demand for domestic products. Visits to selected factories were arranged for school-children, Teachers' Training College students, and \ oung Farmers' Clubs so that the younger people will be made aware of the extent of New Zealand s manufacturing industries and incidentally the dependence of one member of the community upon the support of the other. Important avenues of publicity supported or arranged by the associations arc also the various New Zealand industry fairs and sections devoted to manufacturing enterprise at other shows throughout the Dominion. „ , , ~ , ,T, , ~ ,„• A It will thus be seen that the work of the New Zealand Manufacturers federation and allied associations has been a very real factor in the increase of industrial development achieved during the year and that this work has materially aided the Department and the Bureau of Industry m their administration of matters pertaining to industry. STATISTICS RELATING TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. The latest available statistics relating to the manufacturing industries of the Dominion cover the factory vear 1937-38. . . . , , . The hi<*h level of factory "production established in 1936-37 was more than maintained during 1937-38 which set new records under all headings covered by the following summary. Outstanding features'of the 1937-38 statistics are the number of persons engaged in industry (which for the first time exceeds the 100,000 mark), the salaries and wages bill of £21,000,000, and the substantial rise to £113,700,000 in the value of output. . . , , , . , , o , , The following table summarizes the statistics under each principal head in respect ot tiie last three years. For purposes of comparison, index figures are shown illustrating the extent of the development during the past two years.

HMd in the aggregate figures shown in the above table are figures relating to such industries as meat-freezing butter and cheese making, &c. In the following table the figures are shown as they relate to "roups' according to general character of industries and the nature of the operations carried

17

| Index No. Year. — 1936-37. 1937-38-1935-36. 1936-37. J 1937-38. ( I 9 " ( = MO)! Number of establishments .. -- g 5,728 103 107 Number of persons engagec .. • • 844 ' 367 £18,333,077 £20,981,587 121 I'll Salaries and wages paid •• p™ mo phf. aq,i i73 125 c„ f used o, operated »po» £g, 940,393 £70,668,075 £75,084,173 118 125 Other expenses - - £9o'014 748 £105,941,722 £113,691,556 118 126 ■■ ;; :: £301074,356 £35,273,647 £38,607,383 117 128 \alue t mj: ss .. £23,985,510 £24,445,338 £25,573,741 102 107 Ptat »d Si,?., " ., £43,-153.969 145,151,927 £47,164,081 101 109 £67.438,879 £69,597,265 £72,738,722 103 108 — . " T\ n T 1 ' . l_ _ I, • „„