FACTORIES IN N.S.W.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 6

FACTORIES IN N.S.W.

NEW LEVEL IN OUTPUT AND WAGES (OC) SYDNEY. Mar. 6. New South Wales factories boomed last year. They had a record output, employed more workers and paid more wages There were 10,755 factories whose average employment was 326,156 people who received £93,518,326 in wages. This compared with 10,110 factories with an average employment of 318,317 in 1942-43, and a wages bill of £88.900,000. Peak employment was reached during the quarter ended December 31 last. A decline of 6749 was recorded in the next six months. At £398.858,000, output compared with £373,489,000 in 1942-43. a rise of 6.7 per cent. (Output is the value of raw materials and fuel used, together with the value of the work done in factories.) Last year’s production was £162,546.000, or 5.84 per cent, more than in 1942-43. Compared with 1938-39, there were 35 per cent, more male and 56.2 per cent female employees for a net rise of 40.7 per cent. The wages bill was 109.7 per cent, higher, output 82.6 per cent, higher, and production 80 per cent, higher. Of the wartime increase of 94,356 in employment. 23.366 were in Government, and 70,990 in private factories. Most of the rise was m metal manufacture, which accounted for about half the factory employment. The average wages last year were £294 10s 6d, compared with £2BB 10s 4d in 1942-43, and £199 Is in 1938-39. • „ The average male wage was £348 IBs Bd, against £341 5s 5d and £235 15s lfld respectively. The female average was £l7O 2s Id, compared with £156 4s lid and £lO2 10s 6d respectively.