The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 53

Industrial Statistics

Industrial Statistics.

The Industrial Statistics collected during the Census in April twelvemonths have just been published and presented to Parliament, The results they give, as compared with the figures for 1878, when the Drevious Census was taken out, are as follow:—

1878. 1881.
Number of manufactories 1,271 1643
Number of hands employed—
Males 3.728 6,200
Females 449 1,339
Value of land and buildings of manufactories £1,761,094 £1,993,000
Machinery and Plant 1,289,373 1,612,000

The increase in the employment of females in factories is interesting. There were 44 in the printing business, and of these 12 were in Auckland and 13 in Otago. There were seven females employed in flax-mills, live in cordial manufactories, three in meat-preserving works, 21 in wool-scouring establishments, 40 in sash and door works (the bulk in Auckland), and 19 in potteries. The distribution of female labour in manufactories is also notable. Thus, of the 1399 employed in manufactories, 239 were in Auckland, 58 in Wellington, 317 in Canterbury, and 699 in Otago.

Although the returns as to production are 18 months old they are the hist we have, and are, therefore, of interest. In 1880 we made over 28,000,000 bricks, produced 143,000,000 feet sawn timber, scoured 1,163,2351b. wool, preserved 852,7911b. and 201,204 tins of meat, produced 3291 tons of tallow, made 1,400 gallons of neatsfoot oil, boiled down 401,600 sheep, brewed and probably drank 4,874,754 gallons of beer, 637,144 dozen of aerated water, 10,284 dozen of cordials, made 69,281 tons of flour, 7143 tons of meal, 122 tons of paint, 1000 gallons of varnish, worked up 844,6471b. of wool, and made in addition 96,768 yards of cloth, 280,291 pairs of boots and shoes and 7,350 boot uppers, manufactured and cured 655 tons of bacon, 47 tons and 16,439 dozen of fish, started the manufacture of cod-liver oil, made 294,555 bushels of malt, 4440 gallons of wine, and 3291 tons of soap and candles. Such are the bold outlines of the industrial statistics presented to Parliament.— Oamaru Mail.

The breweries in the Colony number 99. They employ 526 hands, 218 horses, 169 drays and waggons, and made during the year 4,874,754 gallons of beer. The approximate value of land and buildings is set down at £233,218, and machinery and plant £84,180. In connection with the breweries are 34 malt-houses, turning out 294,555 bushels of malt.

Collieries at work in the Colony number 51—viz., 5 in Auckland, 9 Nelson, 3 Westland, 6 Canterbury, 28 Otago. These employ 484 horsepower, and 992 hands. The output of coal last year was 277,918 tons, exclusive of yield from a number of small mines. Land and buildings are valued at £100,071, and machinery and plant at £121,079.

The quartz-mines at work in the Colony number 84—namely, 28 in Auckland, 2 in Marlborough, 32 in Nelson, 22 in Otago. Amount of horse-power, 1463; hands employed, 1147; quantity of gold produced, 84,184 oz.; quantity of quartz crushed, 98,460 tons.— Otago Daily Times.

W. J. M. Larmach,

Chairman,

H. Houghton

, Secretary.