13

H.-44

MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS. The district officers of the Department act in a,n advisory capacity to the executives of the associations in the four chief centres, and by this method close contact and co-operation is maintained with each association. The assistance of the officers in the past has been availed of in connection with exhibition undertakings, shop-window displays of New-Zealand-made goods, and other propaganda work. The memberships of the associations have materially increased during the past year, one association adding ninety-five members to its roll, representing an increase of 35 per cent. The associations have for their object the fostering and encouragement in every way possible of the manufacturing industries that are or may be established in New Zealand. The methods adopted to attain this end have been by (1) promotion of exhibitions of Dominion manufactures ; (2) newspaper and other forms of advertising ; (3) conferences at regular intervals of the manufacturers of the Dominion and the interchange of views of interest regarding the industrial development of the Dominion. In Auckland the publicity campaign carried out in conjunction with one of the newspapers in that city has created much interest by the efficient and interesting manner in which the various phases of manufacturing industries have been presented to the public. The Auckland Association has made a decided forward step in propaganda work in the establishment of a " Hall of Industries " in the new Queen's Arcade, Queen Street. The object of acquiring the premises in the heart of Auckland and the busiest shopping centre is to have a permanent exhibition space available to individual manufacturers. The area set aside for exhibits is contained in fourteen show-cases 7-| ft. long, by 2-|- ft. deep, by 7 ft. high. These cases will be available to manufacturers, and, in addition, an island space 30 ft. by 20 ft. has been reserved for unit exhibits —i.e., cooking-ranges, gramophones, &c., and can be subdivided in sections to suit exhibits. Her Excellency the Lady Bledisloe paid a visit recently to the Hall of Industries, and expressed her delight at the excellent display of the articles on view. The Dunedin Association have featured annually the " Made-in-New-Zealand Window-display Week " as their main contribution towards effective propaganda work. The efforts this year of the organizer appointed and the special committee were responsible for securing the co-operation of no less than 268 retailers, who placed at the disposal of manufacturers over four hundred shop-windows. The displays made were most effective, and aroused considerable interest from the public. Unfortunately, owing to shortage of electric current due to a dry spell of weather in Otago, illumination of the windows at night was prohibited. For some time past negotiations have been carried on with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association with a view to combining in a joint exhibition building proposal for displaying both agricultural and manufacturing products, and recent discussions indicate the probability of an early settlement of previous difficulties. The Christchurch Association'have arranged for several years the use of the King Edward Barracks for Show purposes. The last Show held in August, 1929, set an exceptionally fine standard in exhibition and organization. Comprehensive and effective displays of manufacturers' products were featured. This Association recently celebrated its jubilee, and to mark this event it is proposed to erect a permanent Industrial Hall, the main purposes of which are : (1) The holding of industrial exhibitions, particularly winter exhibitions of primary and manufacturing industries ; (2) to provide a hall large enough for the largest indoor public gatherings that may be required in Christchurch for some years ; (3) to provide a smaller hall suitable for band-contests, concerts, indoor sports, motor exhibitions, &c. Provision has been made in the plans for a conference-room for the Association, and suitable offices for the secretary of the Association. A site has been obtained in Moorhouse Avenue, opposite the railway-station. Competitive designs were invited from architects, and from numerous plans submitted one showing a proposed building of outstanding appearance has been selected. The approximate cost of land and building is estimated at £38,000. The Department congratulates the Canterbury Association on its initiative and progressiveness, and feels confident that the success which will attend the acquiring of a permanent building in which to stage annual exhibitions of Dominion manufactures will amply justify the initial steps that have been taken. The Wellington Association reports a substantial increase in membership. The Association held its Sixth Annual Exhibition in conjunction with the Winter Show Association in July last. The space allocated to the Association was fully taken up by manufacturers. In contrast to the previous year, moving exhibits were more in evidence, and proved a great attraction. The displays comprised a very comprehensive variety of the many products manufactured in the Dominion. The standard of exhibits made by the individual manufacturers was of a high order. The Department obtained space at both the Christchurch and Wellington Winter Shows, and featured statistics relating to factory production. Four graphs of five-yearly periods from 1908 were prepared, showing the number of employees engaged, the amount of wages paid, value of output, and horse-power used. Other exhibits were made to emphasize the expansion that has taken place in manufacturing industries. STATISTICS RELATING TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. In comparison with the figures for the previous year, the figures below show increases both in regard to employment and wages paid and also substantial increases in value of output and added value. The only figures that have declined are in respect of number of establishments, the relative figures being 1928, 5,166 ; 1929, 5,136 ; a decrease of 30. The decline took place in the coach- and motor-building factories, furniture and cabinet making, and flax-milling.