MORE EMPLOYMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 11

MORE EMPLOYMENT

LOCAL INDUSTRIES. INCREASE OF 9000 IN YEAR? FEDERATION'S ESTIMATE. Manufacturing industries have been able to provide employment for many mure workers during the past twelve months, according to a report presented to the Dominion council of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation. Official statistics regarding industrial employment are always ten or eleven months out of date when published, and the most striking improvements seem to have occurred since the period covered by the last report. Inquiries have therefore been made of a number of typical manufacturing establishments in all four centres, and it appears that there has been on an average an increase of 20 to 2.1 per cent in the number of workers employed last month as compared with the number in employment a year ago. Jt will be surprising, says the secretary of the federation, if the complete official statistics when published show anything less than an increase of 9000 during this period, or an increase of at least 12,000 in manufacturing industries since 1933. A large part of the increase is due to the improvement of trade generally, and to the fact that many merchants and retailers are now gradually building up again stocks which had been allowed to diminish almost to vanishing point during the slump. The revival of house-building has played an important part, and it is surprising to discover how many manufacturing industries are affected directly and indirectly by the growing demands of the building and furnishing trades. Manufacturing engineering establishments have largely recovered from the depression of their industry a few years ago, and this is one striking case where new life has resulted from the enterprise of manufacturers who have developed the production of entirely new lines. Amongst others the following are some sections of the industry which are reported to be very rapidly expanding the amount of employment they can provide: Gas and electric ranges, tius and canisters, dairy equipment, electric bowsers, agricultural implements, builders' and plumbers' supplies, electrical appliances. Woollen mills and clothing factories are reported to be working to full capacity; while footwear factories also are busy. Indeed, in many instances, further progress is being actually checked to-day by a shortage of high-grade skilled labour.

One of the most striking developments is said to be the manufacture (aB distinct from mere assembly) of wireless sets. Employment in three factories engaged in this work has quadrupled during the last two years. In the last year alone the employment in motor assembly plants and auxiliary concerns has increased by nearly 000; and there is reason to expect that this increase will be doubled during the next fewmonths.

Manufacturing industries, the federation claims, have thus played an important part in pulling the Dominion out of the slump. If the direct employment in factories has increased by 10,000 or 12.000 in two' years, there must have been a corresponding increase in the employment of others in all other types of business whose livelihood depends on the spending i>ower of the public, including workers engaged in industry. Directly and indirectly, it l« claimed, the expansion of manufacturing industries must have given employment to at least 20,000 more persons than were employed two years ago.