EL—ll.

Zealand), while Table 111 will show the results divided into the trades upon which the workers were engaged, whether in the same industries or not (for example, the whole of the engine-drivers employed in New Zealand). While in past years the Department has been enabled to publish figures relating to a certain day in each year only, in these appendices employment in the whole of the trades has been covered for the full twelve months, and by this means important data has been obtained as to the duration of employment. The wages are shown separately for each industry and trade according to age and sex. Further tables arising out of these returns will probably be published during the current year. Dealing with the number of factories registered and the employees engaged therein during the year ending the 31st March, 1913, it is cause for satisfaction to note that there have been undoubted signs of healthy development. As compared with the year ending 31st March, 1912, there is an increase of 428 factories. The following table shows the number of factories and workers employed therein registered from 1895 to 1913 : —

The following table shows how the wages were distributed amongst the leading trades :—

Note.—The total wages paid in factories as shown in the various tables in this report are for the twelve months ending the 31st March, 1912 (not 1913). The figures for 1912-13 not being obtainable from the employers until after the 31st March, 1913, cannot be published until next year.

V

Year. Factories. Increase. Factory-workers. Increase. 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 4,109 4,647 5,177 5,601 6,286 6,438 6,744 7,203 7,675 8,373 9,123 9,881 10,788 11,586 12,040 538 530 424 685 152 306 459 472 698 750 758 907 798 454 29,879 32,387 36,918 39,672 45,305 48,938 53,460 55,395 59,047 63,968 67,713 70,403 75,310 78,625 78,848 2,508 4,531 2,754 5,633 3,633 4,522 1,935 3,652 4,921 3,745 2,690 4,907 3,315 223 1910 1911 1912 1913 12,302 262 466:0 3 79-~"~-428 "r77,806 Decrease. 1,042 Increase. 984 12,768 12,847 13,375 78,790 86,598 / 7,808 * Not ascertained.

Wages paid during the Years Class. Increase (Amount). Increase (Percentage). 1911-12. 1909-10. Food trades Iron and metal trades Woodworking trades Clothing trades Printing and stationery trades . . Stone, clay, and mineral trades Chemical and by-product trades Watch and jewellery trades £ .. I 1,355,417 .. 1,206,681 .. 1,185,996 .. ! 967,219 435,142 275,858 115,672 51,541 I £ 1,226,817 1,005,444 958,902 847,688 379,434 214,543 100,680 49,469 £ 128,600 201,237 227,094 119,531 55,708 61,315 14,992 2,072 Decrease. 14,568 2,305 1,821 29,070 11-72 20-01 23-68 14-10 14-68 28-60 14-89 4-19 I' Miscellaneous trades Leather-working trades Light, heat, and power trades .. Flaxmilling 501,636 .. ! 361,449 .. I 161,494 .. I 125,750 516,204 363,754 163,315 154,820 Totals .. .. 6,713,855 '5,981,070 Total net increase. 732,785