H—44

The volume of output of yarns, piece-goods, and blankets by our woollen-mills in recent years is given in the following table, from which it will be noted that greater quantities of the commodities listed were produced in 1948 than in 1947 : -

* Does not include carpet yarns. t Quantities of yarn made by mills and used for their own weaving not included prior to Ist July, 1947. J Amended to exclude rugs.

The hosiery and knitting mills and clothing-factories, with more adequate raw materials, have produced a great volume of goods during the year, but statistics for the year just closed are not yet available. (6) Furs All women's fur apparel now marketed in New Zealand is made here either from skins of local origin or from skins imported in the raw state and processed by our fur dressing and dyeing industry. In the past year, 60 per cent, in value of skins used were of local origin. In pre-war years this percentage was less than 20, but during the war local manufacturers were obliged to depend to an increasing extent upon New Zealand skins, particularly rabbit and opossum, and that position is continuing. Garments made from imported furs, however, command a higher price because of their relative scarcity and of the wider selection of skins. Imports are allowed to the greatest extent possible. The most recent statistics available show that 63 units with 552 employees were engaged in this industry and that the value of skins used in manufacture approximated £380,000 for a year. '(c) Footwear and Leather Statistics covering the production of footwear show that output declined substantially in 1948-*49 as compared with the previous year. The figures are :

Nevertheless, except in children's lines, the market appeared to be adequately catered for. Labour shortage is still felt in both manufacturing and repairing, but the decline in production appears as being due not so much to that as to the fact that the backlog of demand created by wartime conditions has been overtaken. Supplies of children's shoes are still being supplemented by imports. Manufacturers generally continue to place high importance on the quality of their products and more variety can be introduced now that pressure for volume has eased somewhat.

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- 1945. 104(5. 1047. 1948. Yarns (lb.)* Woollen and worsted piece-goods (sq. yd.) Flannel (sq. yd.) Blankets (pr.) l,835,672f 3,984,654 794,428 132,832$ l,663,674t 3,381,945 529,860 120,697$ 4,170,373| 3,131,003 423,928 118,251$ 6,032,064 3,374,615 459,063 126,087

— 1947-48. 1948-49 Footwear Slippers Rubber footwear .. Pairs. 3,407,615 2,153,201 726,440 Pairs. 3,041,563 1,953,979 512,047 • 6,287,256 5,507,589