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22. Hosiery-factories. Official statistics— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 33 33 35 35 Employees (number) .. .. 998 1,012 1,226 1,298 Salaries and wages paid .. £111,551 £114,379 £146,623 £167,975 Value of output .. .. £440,089 £461,653 £564,990 £590,253 Added value £214,178 £248,236 £258,715 £271,972 Imports (calendar years) .. .. £196,630 £246,536 £429,525 £365,161 Factories have been producing at maximum capacity and expansion of plant is under way. It is essential that output should be maintained as overseas competition has served to keep the profit margin fine. Youthful labour has been scarce and has caused considerable concern. 23. Tinned-plate and Sheet-metal Working. Official statistics— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 130 127 128 126 Employees (number) .. .. 1, 452 1,384- 1,554 1,690 Salaries and wages paid .. £214,918 £204,118 £270,608 £321,498 Value of output .. .. £763,682 £792,461 £1,032,347 £1,191,603 Value added by manufacture .. £358,577 £344,107 £451,464 £518,986 A busy year, with prospects for the future remaining good. 24. Electrical Engineering. Official statistics — 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 53 69 74 84 Employees (number) .. .. 355 617 598 855 Salaries and wages paid .. £52,683 £90,080 £94,837 £148,926 Value of output .. .. £162,755 £302,056 £321,306 £492,818 Value added by manufacture .. £86,944 £172,614 £181,541 £265,494 Business has been brisk throughout the year and gives every indication of continuing. Skilled labour is by no means plentiful. 25. Range-making. Official statistics— 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. 11 8 11 12 Employees (number) .. .. 408 436 683 689 Salaries and wages paid .. £69,748 £74,650 £125,517 £134,001 Value of output .. .. £199,920 £206,527 £319,650 £325,826 Value added by manufacture .. £136,511 £148,044 £219,759 £213,493 Coal Ranges. —Business has been quiet, due, no doubt, to the increasing popularity of gas and electric ranges. Electric Ranges.—Output has been fair during the year, and prices have been cut too fine to be satisfactory. The import restrictions have brightened the prospects, and conditions should improve considerably. Gas-cookers. — The latter part of the year has provided a gratifying recovery after most disappointing conditions early in the year. The outlook is now decidedly more optimistic. 26. Wireworking. Official statistics — 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. .. 19 20 23 25 Employees (number) .. • • 160 195 231 248 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £26,993 £34,235 £50,104 £54,532 Value of output £125,618 £154,868 £227,411 £240,343 Value added by manufacture .. £68,152 £79,788 £107,305 £117,769 Conditions improved somewhat towards the end of the year. Prospects for the future are good. 27. Tanneries. Official statistics — 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Establishments (number) .. .. 15 16 14 13 Employees (number) .. .. 531 543 571 497 Salaries and wages paid .. .. £100,668 £104,888 £117,755 £119,890 Value of output £492,604 £519,157 £614,113 £583,287 Value added by manufacture .. £198,454 £210,692 £217,565 £206,607 The first half year was a very slack period for the tanning industry. About September, with the improvement in the footwear trade, better conditions prevailed, although recovery was slow because of the large stocks of footwear held by retailers. Considerable benefit was derived from the Import Regulations, and plans are under way for extensions to plants and factories.

(i 11. 44.

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