N.Z. PRODUCTION

Grey River Argus, 30 March 1943, Page 2

N.Z. PRODUCTION

Factories Keep Up [Per* Press Association] AUCKLAND, March 29. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) stated that though a slight decrease is shown in the number of establishments the figures relating to factory production for 1941-42 give cause for satisfaction. The reduction in the number of establishments was only 28.. An increase in the number of pel sons employed of 8,492 occurred in 1939-40 In 1940-41 an addition to pav rolls of 1,875 males was made and women had rallied to help the country with an addition of 6,667. Overtime worked in the year under review represented the equal or 22,728 weeks of 40 hours each, or an additional 4,283 operatives. Over the same period the annual wages bill increased by £5,043,750, bringing the total to £29,504,299. The cost of materials used increased Horn ±BO.243,383 to £102,260,860, an increase of £l7 017,477. The value of total factory production rose by £26,504,369, reaching £155,566,195, and the splendid total of £53,305,335 had been added to the national wealth. During the war, plant machinery used in factories had iricueased bv £4,899,366. and the total value had reached £56.9231634. Industries showing an increase were: Engineering iron and brass founding, woollen mills, biscuits, confectionery, footwear, leather and; hosiery. A fairly heavy decrease had occurred in the employment figures in such industries as furniture, motor engineering and printing and publishing. Persons engaged in factory production had increased by 2.8 per cent, in 1942, salaries and wages by 9.5 per cent., and the adddd value by 9.7 per cent. y