7

H.—ll

FACTORIES ACT. Statistical. The totals quoted below show that the number of factories registered continues to grow, there being an increase of ninety-four factories on the previous year, and in thirteen years the number has doubled. The total number of factory workers is also given (showing a small increase over the last year). The latter figures should, however, be regarded as only approximate. It is explained that the figures published from year to year mainly comprise, in column 2, the factoi'ies in existence at registration-time (April). Similarly, in column 4, the factory workers mentioned are mainly those employed at that time. To these have been added the few new factories which opened up during the succeeding eleven months, together with the workers employed therein, but no allowance has been made for any factories (or the workers employed therein) that may have been closed down during the same period. Although the figures are shown as being for each year April-March, it may be said therefore that they substantially relate to the first month of the year only —viz., April.

Tables showing further particulars of the factories and of the workers employed therein during the year 1913-14, divided into districts and trades, arc given on page 46. It should perhaps be further pointed out, first, that the total numbers of persons shown as engaged in the several trades do not indicate the actual number which the trades are capable of employing, as many trades may be unusually slack or busy during the month of April; and, second, that the total wages shown for each trade represents the wages paid to the persons employed throughout the year in question, not merely to those engaged in April. Several trades show substantial increases in the number of persons employed as compared with the previous returns. In the meat-slaughtering and allied trades 4,345 hands were employed, as against 3,934—an increase of 411. Other increases are — 1013. 1914. Increase. Fruit-preserving .. .. .. 351 520 169 Cycle and motor engineering .. .. .. 1,488 1,646 158 Flax-milling .. .. .. .. .. 1,792 2.011 219 Printing, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 4,136 4,287 151 Other trades have remained almost stationary or show a slight falling-off. This is largely accountable to the fact that suitable hands could not be obtained. These are — 1913. 1914. Increase. Ready-made clothing, shirtmaking, and tailoring .. 9.204 9,287 83 Decrease. Dressmaking .. .. .. .. ..6,648 6,517 131 Cabinetmaking .. .. .. .. ..2,746 2,744 2 Woollen-milling.. .. .. .. .. 1,843 1,812 31

Year. (1) Fabtories. (2.) Increase. (3.) Factory Workers. 14) Increase. (5.) April to March. 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 1897-98 1898-99 ,1899-1900 ... 1900-1 1901-2 1902-3 1903-4 1904-5 1905-6 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 1909-10 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 1910-11 12,302 12,768 12,847 13,375 13,469 262 466 79 428 94 77,806 78,790 ■IDecrease. 1,042 Increase. 984 # 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14 86,598 87,517 7,808 919 * Not a« Pertained.