H.—44.

resulted. The output of many individual industries has been considerably affected, as is shown in the following tables : — Increases. £ Electricity generation and supply .. .. .. .. 656,000 Printing, publishing, and bookbinding .. .. .. 317,000 Motor and cycle engineering .. . . .. . . 231,000 Flour-milling .. .. .. .. .. .. 216,000 Clothing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 176,000 General engineering . . .. . . . . . . 148,000 Ham and bacon curing .. .. .. .. .. 140,000 Furniture and cabinetmaking .. . . . . . . 120,000 Biscuit and confectionery making .. .. .. .. 119,000 As an offset against these increases there have been reductions in .the output of the following Decreases. £ Meat freezing and preserving .. .. .. .. 1,134,000 Butter and cheese manufacture .. .. .. .. 238,000 Woollen-mills .. .. .. .. .. .. 104,000 Woolscouring and fellmongery .. .. .. .. 77,000 Lime-burning and cementmaking . . . . . . . . 61,000 Boot and shoe making .. .. . . . . . . 28,000 Land, Plant, and Buildings.—The fourteen additional electricity-generation stations included this year are mainly responsible for the large increase in the value shown for land, plant, and buildings.

Table showing Manufacturing Activities by Provinces for the Year ended 31st March, 1926.

The above table shows the Dominion's manufacturing activities by provinces, and it also shows production of semi-primary industries separately. The latter—butter, cheese, and meat —disclose a reduction in value of production of £1,372,240, whereas all other products manufactured increased by £2,025,186. This latter figure includes an increase of £656,000 for electricity supply, and with this excluded the increase in value of production — viz., £1,369,186 —in other manufacturing industries is relatively satisfactory. Since the 31st March, 1926, the information received from manufacturers in the various branches of industry indicates a decided slump during the latter part of 1926 and 1927. Detailed information in relation to certain industries is, as already mentioned, given in an appendix to this report. The Department has noticed that manufacturers are making strenuous efforts to reduce costs of production, and in many instances steps have been and are being taken to improve factory practice. New Industries. Quite a number of new industries have been established during the past year. In three of the main centres a company has installed and is operating a plant which deposits metal coatings on almost any class of material. At present the company is engaged in zinc-coating a big quantity of steel sashes. There appears to be a wide field for the uses to which this industry may be applied. Another industry recently commenced in Otago by Arthur Ellis and Co. is that of manufacturing down quilts of a high-grade quality. Fur Dressers and Dyers, Ltd., commenced operations in Dunedin at the end of last year, and now have a considerable number of hands employed. Most modern plant and buildings have been erected to deal with the company's output, and no expense has been spared to produce the finest of furs. The raw materials used are largely of New Zealand origin, and the company is securing a ready sale for its products. It is expected that this will develop into a valuable Dominion industry. In Christchurch, Radiators Ltd. has successfully established the manufacture of electric radiators, electric grillers, kettles, glue-pots, &c., all of which are of a high standard, and production and sales are increasing.

8

Nature of Factory Production. TJ . Nu ™ ber Nu ™ bor Wages and I Value ol Province. Factories. Employees. Salaries paid. Materials used. cheese; Butter _ other T . , and Meat, j Products. 10ta " . £ £ £ £ £ Auckland .. .. 1,429 26,807 5,637,377 16,987,699 10,942,292 17,075,474 i 28,017,766 Wellington, Hawke's Bay, 1,804 24,733 5,315,423 18,149,584 14,504,751 13,771,514 1 28,276,265 Taranaki, Marlborough, and Nelson Canterbury and Westland .. 823 15,591 3,179,737 9,906,104 5,175,479 10,818,263 15,993,742 Otago and Southland .. 734 14,518 2,733,178 7,277,699 3,854,289 8,612,197 12,466,486 Totals, 1926 .. 4,790 81,649 16,865,715 52,321,086 34,476,811 50,277,448 84,754,259 Totals, 1925 .. 4,547 80,327 15,690,202 52,161,420 35,849,051 48,252,262 84,101,313