BUSINESS BUOYANT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 62, 10 September 1936, Page 10

BUSINESS BUOYANT

BUILDING ACTIVITY

STATISTICAL SURVEY

MORE UNEMPLOYED

The' Government Statistician in his survey of business statistics for x the month' of July, states that the returns for that month display, in general, offseason recessions; "but when allowance is made for seasonal factors, the general tone of business activity remains buoyant. . The value of exports rose in July, contrary to the usual seasonal tendency; so that, despite a further slight increase in imports, a substantial credit balance is shown as a result of external trade in. commodities during the month.

"Building activity continues to show improvement, judging by the latest statistics of building permits issued in the larger towns. In particular a continued improvement in the building of dwellings is indicated by the permit statistics for recent months. During the past seven months 2092 such permits were issued, as compared with 1535 during the same period of 1935."

As to farm production, the position in respect of supplementary feed is reported as "very satisfactory" wi*h good yields of root crops harvested. Stock are reported as in excellent condition.

The prospects of the wool market are favourable. The meat market remains firm with a rising tendency.

"Generally speaking the. statistics compare very favourably with the corresponding figures for the previous year." The excess of commodity exports over imports of merchandise usually shows a sharp fall between June and July; but, owin^ to the abnormal increase in exports during July, the excess of exports as a result of the ■month's overseas trading in commodities was £1;150,342, as compared with £787,306 in June—an Increase of £363,036. UPLIFT IN BUILDING. The statistics of building permits issued in the larger towns indicate to the Government Statistician that the uplift in building activity continues. The value of building operations represented by permits issued in the month of July was £561,382, an increase of £48,756, or 9.5 per cent., over the total in June, and an increase of 43.4 per cent, over the total in July of last year. A single month's figures do not necessarily give a true indication of the movement in building activity, generally, since fortuitous circumstances—e.g., the issue of a permit for a particularly large building—may affect a comparison based on one month only.

This consideration does not apply with the same force in respect of dwellings, which branch, of building activity is making the greater progress at the present time. Permits issued for the erection of new dwellings in July were 344 in number, as compared with 340 in June. This is the fifth month in succession in which there'has been an increase in the number of permits issued for new dwellings, while the total number of permits issued foi this purpose during the expired seven months of the current calendar year was 2092, as compared with 1535 during the same period pt last year. ■ The value represented by permits issued for, the erection of dwellings during the seven months ended July, 1936, was £1,704,847, an increase of 45.4 per cent, over ttie total in the same period of last year. Taking all building permits into consideration the comparative values were:—Seven months, 1935, £2,405,432; seven months, .1936, £3,316,434; increase, 37.9 per cent. UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES. The number of registered unemployed males on the books of the Labour Department on August 1, 1936, was 45,045, an increase of 3106 over the total on July 4 and an increase of 2414 over the number on August 3, 1935. The number of men engaged on rationed employment under Scheme No. 5 has fallen from 25,387 on August 3, 1935, to 15,945 on August 1, 1936— a decrease of 9442; while the number of men receiving sustenance without work has increased from 14,438 on the former date to 26,296 on the' latter date—an increase of 11,858. There were 2804 men- registered as unemployed but not receiving relief on August 1, 1936, as compared with 2806 a year previously.

The number of men in full-time employment with the aid of subsidies from the Employment Promotion Fund was 8958 on August 1, 1936—a decrease of 8452 from the total on August , 3, 1935 (]J,410). These men are not included in the statistics of registered unemployed.