H.—44

The Smokeless Fuel Co. has erected works at Sockburn, and is turning out a smokeless fuel from West Coast slack. Electric ranges suitable for restaurants and hotels are now being made by R. E. Berry, of Christchurch, and H. E. Shacklock, of Dunedin. The latter firm is also manufacturing electric ranges for domestic installations. In Auckland the New Zealand Cutlers have established the hand-forged-knife industry. The knives are forged of double-shear steel, and manuka is used for the handles. They are reported to be of excellent quality, and are finding much favour with freezing-works employees and butchers generally. Machinery suitable for manufacturing seamless carpets is now being installed by Ta.ttersfield Ltd., of Auckland. Seamless carpets have not hitherto been made in New Zealand. In Wellington an industry (Metters N.Z., Ltd., Petone) has commenced operations and is turning out porcelain enamel baths which are said to compete most favourably both in quality and price with the best imported baths. The company is also manufacturing other enamel goods. New Zealand Manufacturers' Directory. The New Zealand Manufacturers' Directory has been under compilation during the past year, and will probably be ready for reissue, in so far as this Department is concerned, by the end of this year. It is about five years since the information was collected for the first issue of this directory, and an enormous amount of detail work has been necessary to bring it up to date. A very significant feature disclosed in the revision of the directory is the huge number of firms and persons who have gone out of business in the interim, and the large number of new firms which have commenced operations. It is interesting to note that the ebb and flow in this respect reaches its peak in Auckland City, and sharply diminishes in geographical order southwards until at Dunedin and Invercargill it is the least in evidence. The larger population in the north does not entirely account for this industrial instability. The classifications of the directory have been simplified, and scores of headings in themselves of but secondary importance, such as " Small wire-manufactures," "Brushes," "Tinware," "Galvanized articles," "Electroplated articles," &c., are now gathered together under such general headings as " Garden and horticultural wirework," " Household wire goods," " Household brushware," " Household tinware," " Galvanized hollow-ware," " Electroplated ware," &c. This has saved much repetition. Each article is, however, still listed in the directory, with a cross-reference to the general heading under which it is to be found. The new directory will in this respect, it is hoped, be found more useful than its predecessor.. An alphabetical index has also been included giving the name and address of every manufacturer listed in the directory. Scientific and'lndustrial Research. The creation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been viewed with the greatest possible satisfaction and interest by manufacturers of the Dominion. As was indicated in last year's report, the plan of organization contemplates the provision of financial subsidies to associations of manufacturers combining for research work, the assistance of secondary industries through field research, and the appointing of a staff to this Department of technical field advisers to advise manufacturers on matters of a general engineering or chemical character. With a view to ascertaining how far the new Department's activities could be made of practical service to the manufacturers, and in what direction the best service could be rendered, a joint inspection of the leading industries of Auckland was made by the Secretaries of both Departments in March last. The visits were appreciated by the manufacturers concerned, who were fully informed as to the proposals of the new Department and invited to submit any research or technical problems to'the Department. It is proposed, as time permits, to continue the work of inspecting the leading factories throughout New Zealand, and, after these inspections are completed, to submit a scheme to the Government after consultation with the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association. It is pleasing to report in this connection that industrialists are giving more attention to the establishment of works laboratories and to the appointment of chemists to their staffs. With the co-operation of works chemists with the experts associated with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, it is considered that excellent work can be done in the prevention of waste, the wider utilization of waste products, in overcoming chemical problems, and generally in giving better quality products at lower production costs. New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1925-26. The above exhibition, with which this Department was closely associated, and especially so in respect of the New Zealand Government Pavilion, was closed on the Ist May, 1926. The final cost of the Government's participation (otherwise than in respect of direct financial assistance to the Exhibition Company) amounted to £32,345. An " Official Record " of the project has recently been issued, a work of which the Exhibition directors may justly be proud. This Department was responsible for the matter contained in this record, covering thirty pages, devoted to descriptions of the Government exhibits. Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto. New Zealand participated, for the first time in its history, in the historic Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto in August-September, last year. This exhibition has been held annually in Toronto for the past forty-eight years, and is one of the most successful and comprehensive fairs held

2—H. 44.

9