H.—44.

NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION. The annual Conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation was held in Wellington on the 14th and 15th November last, when various matters of interest were brought forward for consideration. The Federation has been particularly active in its work in the interests of Dominion manufacturers. The organization is now a permanent one, and the funds necessary to enable it to carry on are provided by subscription from each association. The usefulness of the Federation was demonstrated by the assistance which was rendered to manufacturers in the handling of their case before the Tariff Commission. Recently much attention has been given to the question of industrial co-ordination, and research has been undertaken in regard to problems of particular interest to manufacturers. MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONS. The District Officers of the Department act in close co-operation with the Manufacturers' Association in each of the four main centres, and attend in an advisory capacity the regular meetings of the executives. The Auckland Association, in its forty-eighth annual report, records a roll of 275 members, which represents a slight decrease on last year. The Winter Exhibition proved popular, and valuable publicity service was afforded to the many interesting exhibits of New-Zealand-made products. The thirty-ninth annual report of the Wellington Association stated the membership to be 213. During Easter the Eleventh Annual Exhibition was held in conjunction with the Wellington Winter Show, and again articles of high-class quality and workmanship were featured. It is a matter for regret, however, that the space allotted to the association was not fully occupied. An effective method of advertising New-Zealand-made goods has been adopted by the Wellington Association. This takes the form of the distribution of pay-envelopes to various firms. Endorsed on the envelopes are twelve different slogans pointing out the advantages of purchasing New-Zealand-made goods. During the year many inquiries have been received by the association in connection with goods of New Zealand manufacture, and information has been supplied in every instance. The membership of the Canterbury Association was stated in its fifty-fifth annual report to be 271. The ninth Annual Winter Exhibition was again held in the King Edward Barracks. Manufacturers' exhibits were well up to standard, and there was a larger number of working exhibits. The question of proceeding with the erection of a permanent exhibition building has been deferred for a further period owing to the difficulty experienced in raising the additional necessary capital. A feature of the Dunedin Association's publicity campaign in past years has been the shop-window displays of New-Zealand-made goods, and during the year under review the customary " Made in New Zealand Week " was again held. Comprehensive displays were made in approximately 400 shop-windows, and in this way the public were enabled to obtain a splendid opportunity of judging the quality, price, and extent of New-Zealand-made products. The press of Dunedin gave liberal support to the effort by the issue of special supplements in connection with the " Made in New Zealand Week." STATISTICS RELATING TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. The following table sets forth the statistics relating to manufacturing industries for the year ended 31st March, 1934. For purposes of comparison, the figures of the preceding year are also shown. A slight improvement in the figures for the year under review is evidenced by the comparison so made : —

14

ear ' Index Numbers, 1933-34 1932-33. 1933-34. (1932-33 = 100). _( Establishments (number) .. .. 4,993 5,028 101 Persons engaged — Males (number) .. .. .. 52,454 55,299 105 Females (number) .. .. .. 16,467 17,352 105 Total number .. .. 68,921 72,651 105 Salaries and wages paid— £ £ To males .. .. .. .. 10,588,745 10,611,161 100 To females .. .. .. 1,459,403 1,495,339 100 Total .. .. .. 12,048,148 12,106,500 100 Motive power (horse-power) .. .. 642,116 645,547 101 £ £ Cost of materials used .. .. 42,600,490 46,919,193 110 Other expenses .. .. .. 8,222,595 8,257,261 100 Value of products .. .. .. 66,109,455 71,770,872 109 Added value.. .. .. .. 23,508,965 24,851,679 106 Value of — £ £ Land and buildings .. .. .. 22,909,677 22,159,073 97 Plant and machinery .. .. 42,945,770 42,231,331 98 Total .. .. .. 65,855,447 64,390,404 98