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B. SEMI-PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (1) The Period prom 1901 to 1931 Dealing first with the period between 1901 and 1931, the following table classifies the various semi-primary industries as between those that are stable, expanding, and contracting

Table No. 96.—Table showing Number of Employees engaged in Semi-primary Industries 1900-01, 1920-21, and 1930-31

The term " stable " means that over the period under review the number of •employees has remained relatively constant. The term " expanding " means that there has been some increase during the period in the number of employees, while the term " contracting " means that the number of employees has tended to fall. During the period under review none of the semi-primary industries can be ■classified as stable. The outstanding case of expanding industries was the meat freezing and preserving works, which reflects the expansion in the sheep-grazing industry during the period, and particularly the development of fat-lamb production. The figure for 1920-21 was abnormally high. The quantity of frozen meat exported .about that period was much higher than for more than a decade subsequently, and this is reflected in the number of operatives. As between 1924 and 1931 the average number of operatives per annum was 6,363 ; in fact, in 1927 there were only 5,428 •employees. It can thus be seen that, although the above table shows a major fall in the employees in this industry as between 1921 and 1931, the real decline was very much less than would appear. During the " twenties " an average of about 8 per cent, of all ■employees in secondary industries was engaged in the meat freezing and preserving trade.

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• — - 1900-01. 1920-21. 1930-31. (1) Stable Industries Nil. (2) Expanding Industries Animal food— Meat freezing and preserving works 2 221 8,328 5,891 Ham and bacon curing ' 196 188 380 Butter, cheese, and condensed-milk manufacture 1,221 3,089 4,184 Vegetable food— Grain-milling 515 530 692 Vegetable produce for fodder-Grain-crushing Not shown 45 87 (3) Contracting Industries Animal food— Fish curing and preserving 137 72 63 Harness, saddlery, and leatherware— Tanning, fellmongery, and woolscouring 1,963 1,069 Tanning, 439 ; fellmongery and woolscouring, 310 Working in wood — Sawmilling, sash and door making 6,812 8,385 6,390 Fibrous materials— Flaxmilling (phormium) 1,698 815 177