H—44

62. Brief reference was made in last year's annual report to the visit of Professor A. F. Barker, and to the comprehensive report which he subsequently made to the Government on the New Zealand woollen-milling industry. An appendix to his report, dealing with the educational aspects of the industry, has since been received and is being studied. In the course of his investigations Professor Barker visited every woollen-mill, with the exception of two, the agricultural colleges, the Universities, and the woolscourers, and met other interested parties. 63. The main aspects about which the Department was concerned were : (a) Was the present vertical set-up of the New Zealand mills an economic one ? (6) Was the machinery and processing technique up to date ? (c) What wools were the most suitable to be developed ? (d) What additional industries could be considered which would use wools already grown in New Zealand ? His report answered many of the questions raised and will enable decisions to be made on points which have been long outstanding. (6) Hosiery and Knitting Mills (Year 1943-44) Number of units engaged .. .. .. .. 45 Number of persons engaged .. .. .. 2,182 Annual value of salaries, wages, and drawings .. £474,296 Annual value of production .. .. .. £2,059,102 64. Production of this group covers wool, cotton, and rayon fabrics, together with a wide range of garments, including bathing-costumes, underwear, sox and stockings, and knitted outerwear for juveniles and adults. 65. It is estimated that approximately 9,310,000 articles of hosiery and knitted wear were produced by the industry during the period under review, made up as follows :

<# The gross value of the products for 1946-47 is estimated at approximately £2,500,000. (c) Clothing (Year 1943-44) Number of units engaged .. .. .. .. 421 Number of persons engaged .. .. .. 13,279 Annual value of salaries, wages, and drawings .. £2,460,981 Annual value of production .. .. .. £7,478,680 66. Due in some respects to the relatively small capital outlay required, there has been a growing tendency for numbers of small units to engage in the industry, and this has been accentuated by the desire of many discharged servicemen and servicewomen to set up in their own business. 67. A recent movement in the industry which has caused some concern has been an apparent trend towards a concentration of production by some units on the lessessential clothing lines, and under prevailing conditions this has had the undesirable effect of attracting workers from other and more important branches of the industry.

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Hosiery and Knitted Apparel for — Number of Articles. Infants 402,000 Boys 677,000 Men 4,057,000 Girls 342,000 Women 3,832,000 Total 9,310,000