BOOTS AND SHOES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 109, 4 November 1926, Page 13

BOOTS AND SHOES

A COMPABISON.

Hitherto statistics relating to secon* dary industries in the Dominion have been released in the Government Statistician's annual report on factory production, a publication that becomes available in February or March of each year. Information in respect of certain industries, however, is reasonably complete from September onwards in each year. In future the principal statistics ('regarding these industries will be published in the "Monthly Abstract of Statistics" as the figures become available. Preliminary figures for the boat and shoe industry during the year ended 31st March, 1926, are now available. ■ The number of establishments furnishing returns during the year ended 31st March last (81) was the same as the Dumber reporting in the two previous years. A slight increase was recorded in the value of land, buildings, . phints, and machinery in use (£449,----158) as against the 1924-25 figure. Of the employees recorded in the latest collection (2541), 1602 were males and 939 females. These figures show increases of 66, 53, and 13 respectively over the 1925 figure. It is significant Expenditure by way of salaries and. wages totalled £426,964 in 1926, an increase of £18,!M2, or 5 per cent., ove rthe 1925 figilre. It is significant that the value added in the process of manufacture (value of products less cost of materials), which is recognised as the best basis upon which to judge the growth or ..decline of an industry, has declined from £649,593 in 1923-24 to £607,871 in 1925-26. The figures show a decline of approximat.ely 11 per cent, in the cost of imported leather, and 1 per cent, in the cost of New Zealand leather. Altogether 1,363,690 pairs of boots and shoes, valued at £1,149,191, were made during the year ended 31st March. These figures represent decreases of 9087 and £31,931 respectively in comparison with those of the previous year.