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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2579, 29 September 1915, Page 13

EARLY in the war Sir. . Lloyd George, in"a. phrase that' has become famous, spoke of /•BHtaiij/s wealth aiml inchtstrial.ro-: ' ' sources ■■ . as , the" /-V-;.'silver: bullets" ' with.: which . sho/ ,f might-' help to will the war. Silver bullets alone ivill not; win wars, and there is.no doubt th'at: the Empire this time last year was thinking too much about "business as ns'uai" and too littlo about "victory as usual." Nevertheless the trade and industries of a country are factors of' the utmost importance, both in war and pcaee, for it is the most highly organised industrial States which can supply the, greatest volume of munitions and squipment for their armies in the field/ Within the; Empire, the 6trengfch of one member is the strength of all, and.it is therefore our duty to; develop our industrial resources to the full and to gire. encouragement by practical ;supporii- in cur.purchasing to tho industries of other portions of the Empire. In this issue, forA instance, there are gathered together a large number of business announcements by.manufacturing concerns ia-New Zealand, and a perusal' of these in: themselves would no doubt open the eyes .of many people to the vigorous industrial growth that • has been. taking -place in theiDominion of late years.

H; The Chance ot a Century. 'The war has showni how/the-; British ! people, by purchasing German shoddy because of trilling differences' in price, made a rod for their own backs. - As Mr. W. 11. Dawson wrote recently in the; "Contemporary Review""Now, iiiia' most unexpected way, tho cluuito of a century has come to us, for whatever th e 'political results of- the war may she, the economic results for ourselvesmay: prove immensely. advantageous; 'for - the country whicli has so long been menacing our industiy and commerce has suddenly become a country with which, for the . time being, we may .'not trade,-even if'wo would. It's industries are paralysed; its argosies have been" swept fromitho seas; and most of the markets in. which .its-greatest' conquests liavu been achieved; are open to us as never before. To improve the opportunities thus offered is the great task and duty of the hour, aiid upon the 1 vigour, intelligence, ; and foresight shown by our manufacturers and traders at this, time of "supreme test will the future course of 'our economical development and prosperity for generations depend." Sir .AVilliam Lever's opinion is also worth quoting:—"We have now the [opportunity ibf our lives to make war on the enemy: trade, to secure trade-for this. couiitry,.to..do our own people good, and will'strengthen.us as a self-contained nation. : ' ' : Wli'at'-Tyiir be 'tlie' commercial' position | at the close of the War? That is a question not easily answered, but certain points that should be borne in mind were 'clearly * put.> by -Mr.'; James -Macintoshj'.president of the Wellington Chamber of Goinmerce, in'a short contribution to a southern journal. Mr. Macintosh said"There "is a fear; expressed in some, quarters, and perhaps pretty generally felt, that when this cruel and bloody war, begun by Germany for its' own selfisli ends, is. over, British people throughout the world will; with that soft-rheartedness which is part of their nature, renew business relations with them, and; within a comparatively little while, everything will- be,|as before..

"Those who 'fear such, a renewal of business relations says 'Tins thing must not .be,' .'and" .urge; that steps lie. taken to prevent tho .possibility of such an occurrence,' even in the smallest 'degree. Their main' suggestion is that such amendments should bo made in our. tariff as would not. only foster andi.encourago interchange of commodities. between all parts of the British Empire, but ultimately lead, and that, as'speedily as possible, to an en tiro independence of foreign countries—excepting, of course, our Allies of today. Tho spirit which underlies all this is right. It is the desire to unite, to hind the different parts of the Empire together for mutual benefit and; support. But it is a wide question—too ■wide; to discuss here—and it can saf,ely bo left until the strife is over and minds, aro free to deal with it calmly and equitably. Besides, it is an Imperial matter and could be better handled, in the first place, at any rate, at an Imperial .Conference. There a general policy could'be outlined, and Parliaments throughout the Empire could thereafter pass. such laws as the exigencies" of eaoh country, might call for, "There need be no fear in the meantime that German gojds, in any shape or form, will ever, ho taken in British hajids.' A great gulf lias formed between us and the Germacs —a gulf filled with the blood of our kith and kin, and the tears of cur. bereaved womankind. Where is there a man so base as to stretch across such a gulf, and have dealings with people, who have so wallowed in infamy and so utterly violated all'that we hold sacred? That man would become an outcast, loathed and'shunned by every Britisher. British, people can be trusted; they will-not fail. ."Therq is a time for everything. Just now it is lighting, and every man who is . able and within the age should either be in the firing' lino or tracing for it or engaged in activo servico of some kind, whilst those who, by reason of age or other disabilities, are debarred this .privilege, can fir.d other, ways to help. In some way or another everyone in tho community should be doing his and hor utmost, and should never relax a muscle or halt to consider any side issues, but fight to a finish till the enemy is 'down and out.' "

German Views. ■ Let us now turn to tho other side and' see what- tho German view of things is. Before tho war Britain admitted German wares freely to her markets, and German steamship lines plied freely between Hamburg and Bremen and the overseas British Dominions, building np a rapidly-growing trade. There was very little reciprocity in these arrangements, and while taking advantage of the Empire's open_ door the Germans kept their own tightly closed with formidable Customs duties. It is a mistake; to. suppose that .this open-door, policy produced any feelings of friendship or gratitude in the Germans. General von Bernhardi' tells us

what they thought about..it: . "It . ; is widely believed that the ..English ,people t pursue a ' particularly /generous and .liberal commercial /policy by impeding in -now- way the .'commerce 'of foreign nations, arid particularly; German cOin•jjierce throughout. their dominions and; [colonies...v/;lil;(reality is /iidt' dictated by generosity or -international courtesy. The English dimply ■require the German merchant. They cannot do without him, and therefore they give him a free hand." , ■ •After quoting statistics, General Bernhardi proceeds:—"lt is clear, if we look at: these figures, that the population does not suffice to exploit the vast possessions. in British hards. The English are absolutely compelled to rely on the. aid of foreigners. Besides, the German merchant is generally considered to be more reliable and more industrious than the English. The German engineer and mechanic is more highly esteemed by many than is his English competitor. Even in Manchester, one of the largest centres of the English manufacturing ' industry, there" are many mills and factories which-areman-aged by Germans, and German merchants may he fouud in many English business houses. We Germans have no reason to thank, the English for generously admitting us to the trade with their colonies. . On the contrary, they have reason to thank the Germans,' for without-them they would i.ot be a-ble to carry on their huge trade at all." .

Our Own Industries, In a special issue of.THE Dominion some months ago many aspects of Imperial trade' were dealt; .with, and in tlieSe pages attention is more especially directed to our own industries, and some of our latent resources. THe materials available -for a review of the manufacturing industries of New Zealand .are of the scantiest. To .forward the interests of agriculture, mining, and the primary, industries generally, important State Departments have'been organised, but no systematic attention has been paid to tho development of manufactures. Under tho retrenchment scheme of 1909 the Department of Industries and Commerce, after a brief 'existence of a few years, was reabsorbed into the Department of Agriculture, but its attention was mainly confined to the meat end of the sheepfarming and the butter and cheese end of. dairy-farming—very important work, but still leaving untouched much ground worth development. A proposal has recently been made that a Board of Trade should be set. up in the Dominion to encourage the establishment of such new: industries as may be deemed suitable and to collect information of use to'manufacturers. ' Such a body could no doubt do much useful work. - -

Encouraging Crowtft. ( The following table throws an interesting light on ; tho relative growth of industrial works, population and imports and exports, during the ten years between 1900 and 1910:— Percentage of Increase .1900-1910. „ Per Cent.' Population 30 Imports 65 Exports ...47 Number of breadwinners ............... 32 Number of employees in industrial ! works 34 Output of all factories and works... 84 Output of all factories except meat — works and dairy factories 73 These figures sliow that of late years j with ;tho-,increasoin';;population lost time is being made up in -the establishment of industries.". Of the 402 industrial works of all kinds in operation in 1911, only 62 dated back to 1880 or before. . As tho censors of that year , showed no fewer than 1643 manufactories then in operation it is obvious that private. industry in manufacturing has been accompanied by a fairly high mortality rate in individual concerns.

. Striking Figures, To obtain a general view of the position. it is necessary to resort to the pages of the Year Book . with.its summarised, To avoid misunderstanding it is necessary, to remember that tho figures quoted; iin the Year Book ;do not purport . to; include all "factories"' registered '.under the Factories Act. The tables only sliow the results : of returns s collected from Manufactories and works employing over two hands. In a number of cases where,, work was carried on by the same manufacturer in separate buildings a considerable distance from one another, eacli building would bo registered as a distinct "factory," but only one census returns would be furnished. For instance, in the case of a butter factory ! with, say, a dozen or moro creameries separating and supplying cream, each creamery would be registered as a separate "factory," but tho particulars for all would bo included in one census return. Certain industries which aro registered as factories (bakers, blacksmiths, etc.) do not furnish returns for census purposes. ' ■ . ' ' t'lie moment say what the provision wou Manufactories and Works, 1911 and 1906. April, April, 10H. lflOG. No. No. of establishments 4,102 4,180 Hands employed— ' • Males 42,267 .-11,946 Females 13,007 11,413 Totals 56,231 56,350 1010. ' 1905. Wagea paid— £ £ To males .; 4,865,426 3,070,503 .To females 700,811 475,,02fi Totals .'...5,572,270 4,457,619 H.p. H.p. Horse-power 100,587 60,335 Value of all manufac- & .£ tures or produce (including repairs) 31,729,002 23,444,235 Total approximate value of- • ■ Land 3,600,021 3,264,862 Buildings 5,174,800 3,851,002 Machinery & plant 7,065,548 5,302,522

Totals 1G,731,359 12,50!), 280 •Omitting Government liailway Workshops and Government Printing Office. Tho number of establishments increased in the period by 216, but tho returns show that there wore 125 less hands employed in 1911 than in 190 G. A remarkable feature of this is that v.'hilo the number of males decreased by 2679, or at. a rate of 5.96 per cent., tlio females actually increased by 255-1, or 22.38 per cent. In 1906, males represented 79.75 per cent, of the hands employed, and females 20.25 per cent., while in 1911 tho proportions were 75.16 per cent, and 24.84 per cent, respectively. In spite of the <kcr«iso in the hands employed, and in the proportion of

.males', the/wages paid in 1910 show a considerable increase on tho figures for 1905. ' The' wages paid in the factories o'r industrial works dealt with ill the census'returns were returned for 1905 "at £4,457,619, and for 1910 at £5,572,270, the' increase''on the total sum • being at the 25 per cent. • ; The average''/amount of wages paid to male hands in 19G5 was £88 10s. lid., and in 1910 £115 2s. 3d.; for females, £41 17s. Bd. and £50 12s. 2d. in the respective years. It must bo remembered that these are not adult wages, but those of persons of all ages. /.The increase for the period in the k-rse-power..stated in the returns was 40,252, equal to a Tate of 66.71 .per cent. ; . ,■• " ■; The' approximate value of the land' used for purposes of tho factories was returned as £3,264,862 for 1905, and £3,590,921 for 1910. The value of the lands used for .'mining'is, not included in the above figures, and the value of Crown lands has been'omitted throughout. . .. j. ... : - . ~ As in the previous .quinquennium .4 very large increase 'is' found-in the valueof machinery and plant. The figures for the censuses of 1901, 1906, and 1911 are ; £3,552,457, ' £5,392,522, and £7,665,548. respectively; The rate .of, increase during the first of * the two five-yearly periods was 39.98 per cent., and fori the second 42,15 per cent. The increase in tho value of . manufactures or produce (including repairs) is,, at the rate „■of , 35.34 per cent, for "the quinquennium "as. against-'.- an increase of 31,31 iper cent.! for the preceding five years. Information' as to the cost of materials operated ujion was given in case of most industries, hut in some cases estimates had to/be made to obtain completeness.' The sum. arrived at for the year 1910 i 5.£20,81.0,211. The difference between this amount and the total value'of all tho manufacture and produce (with repairs) may be termed the net value of the manufacture in a sense, and duplications on account of tho articles of any one -kind becoming inaterials operated upon ' for ' another sort would "be eliminated. But to arrive at any approximate estimate as to profit £5,572,270 .spent in • wages ought further to be deducted, and also interest and .. depreciation on £10,731,359 invested in land, buildings, machinery, and plant, together with taxes, insurance, and other in-, cidental expenses. '. Of tho total niunber of works (4402) in operation at the census of 1911, 5076 were under individual ownership. Public registered companies owned only 566 of the works, or 12.86 per cent, of tho whole, but the value of tho manufactures or products of these, 506 amounted to £15,635,535 or 49.28 per cent, of the. total output. '. , The following details of various lead, ing industries -will lie found of interest:—

Primary Industries, Freezing, preserving; aiid boiling--down works increased from 48 in 1901 to 56 in 1906, and the hands employed -from 2282 to 3260; while in 1911 the number of works was returned as 64, employing'4o9s hands. The value of output for 1910 greatly exceeds chat .for 1905, showing £2,493,642 increase, ■ the figures being £7,422,187 against £4,928,545. Of the total valuo for 1910 (£7,422,187), sheep and Jambs frosen were valued at £3,598,251, .excluding legs' of mutton. .The number of carcasses of sheep frozen in 1910 was more than in 1905, by 644,197, and carcasses of lambs frozen 1 increased by 1,099,792. Frozen' beef increased at a great rate between 1905 arid 1910, as regards both weight and value; Tho freezing of butter, and other produce which developed very greatly, between 1900 and 1905, shows (except in the; tiaso of rabbits) a decrease between 1905 and 1910, the figures'for the respective years being £1,728,468 and £1,537,248. • • Bacon-curing establishments wero 42 m, number, employing SOl hands, against 52 with 224 hands in 1905. There is a steady increaso observed in the value of the output, the. figures belli!? £86,032 lor 18itt, £159,564 for 1900", £253,937 in 1905, and £371,621 for 1910; The business done in hams and bacon in 1910 amounted to 132,007 cwt., besides which thero was a largo output of lard (370,5331b.), Comparison of the results shown by the returns; collected at tho census of 1906 with- that of 1901' showed great' development, and a similar development between 1905 and 1910 is shown by. tJlie"census of 1911. : Not only:'did the. inumber of factories ! increase') from 264 l to 338 during the five years, but the value of the output in 1910 rose to £1,337,545 over the amount for ISOS. Tho figures are £2,581,639 for .1805, and £3,919,184 for 1910. There was a considerable increase shown in the value of fish' cured and tinned in 1910 as compared with 1905. The .figures for 1905 were £11,859 for Ksli cured, and £2736 for fish tinned, and the corresponding totals for 1910 were £22,599 and £5929 respectively. The value of other products ■ decreased from £13,514 to £474, but the total valuo of all products of tho establishments rose from £28,109 to £29,002. The result of tho inquiry regarding tho grain mill industry is to show that so far as it relates to number of mills and hands employed there has been a decrease during the past five years. There has, however, boon an increase as regards value of materials operated on, and of output. The Jiour produced in 1905 was given as 95,528 tons, against which 105,939 tons' were produced in 1910. Tho valuo of the output of all kinds,-which includes meat, was returned foi. 1906 as £1.053,686, and ' for 1910 as £1,248,000.

' Biscuits, Confectionery, and Jam. A comparison of hands employed in the year 1910 with those ill 1905 shows 381 against. 587, a decrease of 206. The niaie hands decreased by 169 and females by 37 in the five years. In'bis-cuit-making an increase from 4133 to 5667 tons is shown, but the value of biscuits manufactured decreased from £178,6-16 to £108,253, .' while that of other products (chiefly confectionery) decreased from £46,830 to £9869. The total output came to only £168,122, as against £225,476 in 1905. Confectionery included in returns of biscuit factories is, however, only a small portion of that made in the Dominion. Tho Confectionery and Sugar-boiling industry is now of considerable magnitude, and gives employment to a large number of persons. There were 33 works in 1911, against 36 in 1906, a deoreasß of three. The value of the manufactured articles, however, which, for the year 1905 readied the sum of £138,635, was returned for 1910 as £259,498, an increase of nearly 100 per cent. Besides the output of £259,498 for the year 1910 given in Iheeo return's, a certain amount of confectionery is included in "other pro-

/duct's", in; the biscuit factory table. The confectionery and ; sugar-boiling works used 13836 tons of sugar, -valued, at £55,488, during the year .1910, .'together with other materials valued ..at £88,343..: OThe hands employed show an increase, 571 to 729, of which latter number.4lß were females.. ' The weight of fruit preserved in cans In New Zealand during 1910 was returned at 11,957 cwt., valued at £20,372, and in addition there were 3026 dozen of bottled fruit, valued at £2499. The total weight of fruit canned or bottled in 1905 was 5910 cwt., valued at £9537; so that tho output has more than doubled in the five _ years. The manufacture of jams and jellies also increased, the figures being 46,396 cwt. in 1905 and. 49,661 cwt. in 1910. The value of tho total output stood at £135,506, as against £98,032 five years previously. . The results shown for this industry are, very satisfactory, although the actual money value of tho total manufacture is not so great as in tho case of many industries.

/ Breweries; Etc. , Tlie number of breweries In the Dominion shown in .the census returns for .1911- ,was ..somewhat fewer, than that returned fivo years previously, but the hands employed wore more numerous and the quantity of beer manufactured considerably greater. While in the year 1905 there wero 7.634,362 gallons of beer brewed, the output for 1910. amounted t-o 9,582,790 gallons, -.being . an increase 'of nearly 2,000,000 gallons in tho five-year period. In addition, 489,972 gallons of stout,, valued at £29,058, and other products of the value of £6608 were produced in 1910. Tho valtio of the total _output in • 1910 . amounted 'to £634,759, as against £572,579 in 1905. _ • The quantities of beer 011 which excise duty was paid ' were—for 1905, 7,796,160 gallons, and for 1910 9,399,440 gallons. These quantities are in close agreement with thoso returned at the corresponding censuses as manufactured.

Tlie imported beer entered at Iho Customs for homo consumption increased in quantity only from 218,270

gallons in 1905 to 271,594 gallons in 1910, which- tends to show that the colonial-made beet- has practically displaced th© beer brought from abroad. 1" ? consumption of beer .per head or population, which was 7.421 gallons in the year 1895, reached 9.150 in the year 1900, 9.212 in 1905, and 9.741 in 1910.

The number wf halthouses - returned in 1911 was 28, as against 22 in 1906. The industry, though as yet not of any great dimensions, is a growing one, tlio output having more than doubled between 1905 and 1910, the figures for the respective years being £73,00S and £152,773. Tlio malt produced in 1910 amounted t-o 509,391 bushels. • Establishments for the manufacture of colonial wine decreased in number from 22 in 1906 to 12 in 1911, and the output of wino from 33,842 gallons ; n 1905 to 11,285 gallons in the year 1010. Cider-making seems to have mere -.icd slightly as regards amount, but tohavo decreased in valuo of output. In 1905, 1.1,595 gallons of cider, of a va'ue of £1208, were produced in these establishments, while in 1910 tlio output was 12,200 gallons, valued at £"SG. A considerable.quantity of cider s, hewover, turned out by acratod-wator and cordial manufactories, for which see special table following. Although tlio output of aerated-water and cordial factories appears to have decreased as regards quantity, a considerable increaso in valuo is .shown. The valuo of manufactures increased from £189,561 in 1905 to £250,571 in 1910, an increase of £61,010, or at the rate of 32.18 per qent. On tlio other hand, dccrcascs in quantity of output are recorded. Jn 1905, 2,220,174 dozen of aerated waters. 37,945 dozen of cordials, and 103//,7. dozen of hop beer were produced, the corresponding figures for 1910 being 1,780,163 dozen, 36,399 dozen, and 95,400 dozen respectively.

Sauce, Pickles, Soap, and Candles. The sauce, pickle, and vinegar-making industry employed 115 males and 104 females in 1906, the numbers for 1911 being 80 and 63 respectively. Sauces and pickles with otlior condiments and vinegar were manufactured to. the value of £02,726 in }910, an increase of £6400 over tho amount umdo five years before. The quantities of the various

articles .. manufactured,. however,. .show considerable decreases...., .1 >.

Soap and Candle Works. ■ The. value of manufactures of/all* kinds! at the works reached the sum of £178,556 for the year 1905, and £268,635 for 1910.- The soap made'-iiv 1910 was 7609 tons, or 1818 tons more than that produced five years previously... The making of candles, also inoreased, according to the returns, tho output for 1910 being 3,520,2051b., valued at £75,047, as against 1,930,5441b., of a value of £48,385, in 1905. _ ■ Additional manufactures in 1910 consisted of 1252 tons of soda crystals, valued at £5628, and 70 tons of glycerine, •' valued at £3519. v' -./

Timber industry. - Cooperages numbered 20 according to the returns for 1911. The manufacture of casks would appear to have decreased slightly between the years 1905 and 1910, judging from the comparison given below. Kegs, however, went up by,nearly 200 per cent., and butterboxes by well over 100 per cent., while cheese cases and crates manufactured in 1910 numbered 184,343, against 10,645 in 1905. The total value of the; manufacture of all kinds increased by nearly-100 per cent, during period. The great development of tho sawmills, sash and door industry between 1901 and 1906 was not maintained at a similar rato ; during tho five years preceding tho census of 1911, though the value of the i total output/shows an increase of £571,122, tho figures for 1910 being £2,099,888, as against £2,128,766 for 1905. Most of this increase, however, is duo to higher prices, as there were decreases in the quantities of sawn timber and of mouldings 'in 1910, which are not compensated for by an increase in tho quantity of flooring'.and skirting. The number of works increased in tho quinquennium from 444 to 534, but the number of hands employed decreased, by 2234.. this being duo to the increased use of machinery. Casworks and Electric Current. The operations of the gasworks in

tiie Dominion for the year 1910 still show such expansion as must be considered highly satisfactory, and this notwithstanding the increased uso of electricity in substitution for gas. There were 3S gasworks at the time of the census of 1906, employing 954 hands, and 48 with 757 hands in 1911. Tlio quantity of gas generated in 1910 shows a big incrase on the figures for 1905, being 2,074,566,794 cubic feet, against 1,274;873,860 cubic feet. The output of coke -and tar also increased during the five years, hut no exact comparison of these items can be given, as in 1906 the value of "output" was returned, while the figures collccted in 1911 are as regards ''sales."

The number of electric current works at tlio census of 1911 was 14, an increase of 1 since 1906. > Tho hands employed increased from 118 to- 170, and tho amount of wages paid from £17,627 to £23,969. Tho units generated during 1910 aggregated 18,392,733, and tho units sold 12,419,940. The total revenue for 1910 amounted to £124,951, and the total expenditure to £120,866. Certain comparisons with tho previous census aro given below, and other items, concerning which no comparison can be given, will be found iu Appendix E of the Census, volume. In 1911, returns regarding electric tramways were collected for the first time. These show that 1633 bands were employed, tho length of lines being 146 miles, including 26 miles of doublo track. During 1910,_8,080, 155 car miles were run, and 82,865,450 passengers carried. The revenue for the year amounted to £548,842, and the expenditure to £491,119.

Limo and Cement and Brick Works, Twenty lime and cement works, employing 280 hands, were in operation in 1906.. In 1911 the number of works was only 17, but the number of hands enroioyed had increased to \ 456. Tho valuo of the manufacture for 1910 was nearly double that for 1905, the figures being £184,686 and £107,675 for these years respectively. The valuo of land, buildings, machinery, and plant more than doubled during tho five years. Prick, tilo and pottery works employed 966 hands in 1910, as against 1254 in 1905, and the number of bricks made decreased front 69,785,911 to 62,735,239 in the quinquennium.' There wore also firebricks made to tho number of 774,281 in 1905, and 877,028 in 1910.

The value of bricks ;of all . kinds made in 1910 was £131,594, a decreaso :'\ of £18,606 on the'figures for 1905. The value of pottery'niade, including drainpipes, rose from £52,193 to £92,125, and the total value of'.'all the manufactures froin £216,550 to 1 [£235,220., . The num-; bor brick, /'stone,'',and '■'concrete .dwel-' linghouses,' increased- between the last two censuses from 8359 to 9650, a rato of 15.44 per cent. Houses built of wood or iron increased from 178,551 to 209,700, tho rate, 17.48 per cent., being somewhat higher than that which obtained for brick and stone dwellings.

A steady development is observed in respect of tinware factories. The value of the manufacture ros-a from £98,587 in 1900 to £127,150 in . 1905, and to £160,584:-in • 1910;'- : :In ; -'1895 tho value of the goods was only £63,723. The number of hands decreased from 473 to 414 between 1905 and 1910, though tho wages. paid were more -in 1910 than in 1905, the figures being £40,493 and £36.467 for the respective years. Tlie total value of the manufacture (including repairs) in connection with these industries was returned for the year 1910 at £374,155, which sum is £2372 less than the' amount returned for the year 1905: The number _of works decreased in the quinqnonninm by two, and the number of hands employed by 533. , The number of engineering works increased from 61 in 1905 to 120 in 1910, and the hands employed increased,from 15.68 to 2442 in the five years. • The total value of /manufactures', including repairs, amounted to £751,485 in 1910, as.against £437,036 in 1905. Particulars ill reference to the Government Railway Workshops arc not included above. The value of output of these for the year ended March 31, 1911, was £701,175. .

Printing and Bookbinding Establishments. It is uccessaryv to'remark previously to considering the figures given that, for the sakeof obtaining. true comparisons, particulars relating- to the Government Printing Office have'been omitted.v To arrivfe. at' the full measure of die printing and bookbinding industry, as in 1911, 432 hands should bo added, with £89,293 value of output for . 1910. The number of establishments increased from 239 in-1906 to 241 in 1911, and the number of handa employed- from 3898 to 4222. Female hands increased from 660 to 789. The linotypes used in 1906 numbered 110, auor cite monolines 1 in operation were 31, while in 1911 the number ; 'of linotypes .was; 216, and of monolines 26. Tlio value of output increased in the five years from £1,067,827 .to £1,377,926. The total value .of all manufacture in agricultural implement factories.increased from £199,741 to £222,040, including lepairs. -On the other hand, however, the number of Works decroased from 29' to 19 in five years, while thejiauds employed decreased. by 147.

. .. Coachhulldlng, Gyclevworks, and - Saddlery. The value of the manufacture and repairs rose from" £94,818/ in 1905 to £396,012 'in .1910, aTFmcrease of £101,1947 or at a rate of 34 per cent. The number of establishments decreased by three, and the number of hands employed by 26. The number of cycle works was 71 in 1911, being 26 fewer than in 1906. •The value of the manufacture rose from £75,991 for the year 1905 to £92,141 for 191Q, or.at a rate of 21 per cent. 'J'lio valuo of land, buildings, machinery, and plant was much higher in 1911 t'hau in 1906. A considerable increase, in the value of output in saddlery aiid harness works is shown,'-.as compared with 1905, the. figures for'l9lo being) £220,364, or an increase 0f.'£79,551' during the five years/ The number of-works' in 1911 was: 117;' or 11 more than in 1906.

Tanning, Fellmongering, and WoolScouring. Although the number of works decreased'from 99 tb 79 during the five years, the value of manufactures and products was £200,000 more in 1910 thaii in 1905. Hands employed increased by 36, while horse-power shows 'an increase of nearly 100 per cent.

Ships, and Sails,. Etc. 'As to tlio number of hands employed ill ship and boat building,: and the total; value of all manufacture's-'and' repairs, the returns for last census: show a-great improvement on those for 1906. Nevertheless the number of establishments has fallen from 30 to 29, and boat-build-ing is shown to have very slightly declined, while the number "of larger vessels built shows a decided decrease. Of vessels, under 50 tons, 95 were built in 1910, and of 'Jiose 50 to 100 tons, 5.. There were also built three vessels over 100 tons. . • , The sail, tent, arid oilskin-making industry, though still of small dimensions, shows "a considerable advance during the quinquennium. In 1911 there.were 34 establishments employing 224 hands, as against 29 establishments and 163 hands ■in 1906. The value of products was £92,249. in 1910, an amount more than double that for 1905.

Furniture Factories. In furniture-making a. substantial 'increase took place during the five years' operations. The value of the output, which was £325,185 in 1905, rose • to £497,681 in 1910. Thcro were 1689 hands employed in 1911, being an increaso of 161 on the number for 1906.

Woollen Mills. In April, 1911, there were II woollen -mills in tho Dominion, which employed 1410 - persons—66i males and 740 females. These factories therefore provide more occupation for women and girls than for the male sex. The value of manufactures shown for 11910 is less than that for 1905 by near-, ly £20,000. It must be pointed out, however, that in 1910 hosiery branches I of woollen mills have been excluded from I the woollen mills table and included with the hosiery factories in a separate table. In 1905, 80,578 dozen pairs of hosiery, manufactured in hosiery branches of woollen mills, helped, to swell the valuo of output of woollen mills for that year. In comparing 1910 with 1905 increases aro shown in' respect of bjankets, shawls and rugs, and yarn, while,! the quantity of flannel and of tweed, anil cloth manufactured was less in 1910 than in 1905. ' .

Clothing Factories. ■"Clothing and waterproof factories employ nearly three thousand hands, and is therefore of considerable importance in tho matter of labour, especiajly that of the female sex, of whom 2470 are employed. Tho value of all manufacture for " theyear 1.005 was returned at £303,943, und for 1910 £607,125, the increase for the

quinguenniimi :beihg £198,182, or at the' rate .of 64 per-cent: V :/' ' • ' At?the.. census : ;,of 1911 • returns '\vere obtained from 14,' hosiery factories, ' eni-; ploying"49 male's and 478 females." ;The value of .the ioutput amouhled to £140,442,;Caga'inst:;'£67,588 in. '1905. Toithe totalvfor',l9bsi.:hb\vever, should be added; the value, 0f''80,578 dozen pairs of-hdse, manufactured in hosiery branches of woollen mills, and includecl in the woollen mills table for that year.

Boot and Shoe Factories. Tho totai value of all manufactures of boots and shoes as brought out is £619,873 for 1910, an increase of £118,808 on the figures for 1905. The output from the factories during 1910 wis 1,324,477 pairs "of boots and'shoes; 6S,o4o.;i}airs of slippers, f9S,644.;^a'irs'of and 17,464' pairs/of 'tippers. ' : - Comparison of quantity and value of output from the boot and shoe factories of New Zealand for-the year 1910' with the returns rendered for 1905 exhibits iv great improvement in the condition of the industry: Increases are shown in number of factories as well as in value of- output. Moreover a decrease in the value of boots imported is shown, tho imports for 1910 aggregating only £261,327, as against £282,211 in 1905:

■ Flax-Mills. The hejnp industry was. in the lowest depths of depression at the time of the census of 1893. At that time Only 52 mills were left in operation, and the hands employed had fallen in number to 484';meil:aiid 163 boys. Returns for' 1901' showed ai revival in the mills to 101-in operation, with 1519 men and 179 boys, while in 1906 there were. 240 nii!Ts with a total of 4076 employees. But the census returns for 1911 shows only 81 mills in operation: during April of that year, with 1244 persons employed thereat. The wages paid 6tood ai £227,646 for the year 1905, but decreased - to .'£143,895-for 1910. ;While nearly 200,000. tons of raw material were Used in 1905, only 126,034"t0ns were used in 1910. The i money value of. the total output in 1910; was £284,399, against £557,808 in-1905. Of the total value of output for 1910 tho provincial - district of Wellington ; contributed £217,879, or 77 per cent-. ,Tho number of rope and 'twino works decreased' from 10 in 1906 to. S ill 1911,' and the number of hands employed also decreased slightly. Tlie . output, however, shows a great increase; as regards quantity, 1377 tons of rope and. 1490 tons of; twine being produced lii j 11910. as against-618'tons of rope' iind 1117 tens of twine in .1905. On account of a drop? in prices the value of -the output 1 increased by only £3572 during tlie quinquennium. A3 to materials used, pliormium comes :by far the first, 5267 tons; in 1910 being utilised, against 558 tons of manila.