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THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

THE progress of the manufacturing industry in Australasia has been

somewhat irregular, even in the most advanced states; and although the tabular statement given below shows an increase since 1885 of 91,159 hands in the Commonwealth and 30,533 in New Zealand, a growth proportionately much greater than that of the population, by far the greater part of this extension has taken place during the last eight years. The population of the continent at the present time is not sufficient to maintain industries on an extensive scale, and in past years the field was still further limited by intercolonial tariffs. Now that these barriers have been swept away, and the Australian market secured to a certain extent to the local manufacturer, more rapid progress may reasonably be expected in the manufacturing industry.

The majority of the manufactories of Australasia may be classified as domestic industries-that is to say, industries naturally arising from the circumstances of the population, or connected with the treatment of perishable products; but there are nevertheless a fair number of firmly established industries of a more complex character. A statement of the number of establishments and of the hands employed in Australasia is given below for various years since 1885. The information is obtained annually in the states of the Commonwealth, but only once in every five years in New Zealand :

From this it would appear that the number of hands in the Commonwealth increased from 133,631 in 1895 to 184,160 in 1900, but as the returns of the earlier year were not so complete as those of 1900 the figures cannot be accepted as an index of the progress made during the period. The returns for 1900 and 1903 are, however, practically on the same basis, and have accordingly been summarised

so as to show the movement in each branch of the manufacturing industry during the three years.

Comparing 1900 with 1903, it will be seen that there has been a general increase in the number of persons employed in each of the various classes shown in the foregoing table, with the exception of the industries connected with wood-working, food and drink, the manufacture and repair of vehicles, and the docking and building of ships. The decline in no class of industry was particularly large, except in the industries connected with food. Elsewhere in this volume, the condition of the producing industries during 1903 has been discussed, and it is a natural expectation that with the falling off in the supply of grain there would have been a decrease in the industries connected with milling, while the shortage of fat stock brought about almost a total suspension in certain districts of the large industry of meat-preserving. Queensland was the chief sufferer in regard to the employment in manufactories dependent upon the staple industries. In 1903 there were 2,350 hands employed in meat-preserving and sugar milling, as

compared with 5,412 hands three years previously. The power of the machinery in average use increased from 120,903 h.p. to 159,322 h.p., but this was largely attributable to the establishment of the electric tramway system in Sydney. As a set-off against this, however, it may be said that the figures of the earlier year include electric-lighting plants in several of the states which were not included in 1903, and the increase of power may be accepted as a satisfactory testimony to the large increase of invested capital.

It is interesting to note the extent to which the employment of female labour has increased during late years.

In 1897, the females engaged in the manufactories of the states which comprise the Commonwealth numbered only 26,837 and represented 17.7 per cent. of the total hands employed; in 1903 their number had increased to 46,759 and the proportion to 23.8 per cent. In New Zealand the experience has been similar, from 4,391 in 1895 the number of females increased to 11,606 in 1903, and their proportion to the total hands employed rose from 16.1 per cent. to 22-2 per cent. The figures are prejudiced to a certain extent by the fact that the returns for the states were not all compiled on the same basis; still there is sufficient evidence that the employment of female labour is increasing, a conclusion borne out also by the information obtained at the Census of 1901 and published in part "Employment and Production" of this volume. The proportion of females employed is largest in Victoria, where there were 23,795 out of a total of 73,229 persons, equal to 32.5 per cent. ; South Australia followed with 21.1 per cent., and Western Australia had the lowest proportion with 11.7 per cent. The following table shows the number of males and females employed in the Commonwealth in each year since 1897 :

Too much importance is sometimes attached to this apparent intrusion of woman into what is generally considered to be man's sphere, for it would appear that the increased employment of women is mainly confined to industries concerned with the manufacture of clothing, &c. As evidence of this, it may be mentioned that the number of females engaged in the Commonwealth in clothing, tailoring, and dressmaking establishments increased from 20,928 in 1900 to 25,426 in 1903.

MANUFACTORIES OF VICTORIA.

Victoria was the state which first displayed activity in the manufacturing industries. In 1885 there were employed in factories, properly so called, 49,297 hands, and in 1889 there were 57,432 hands; but the number fell away to 41,729 in 1893. Since that year there has been an increase to the extent of 31,500 hands. Of the 73,229 workers employed in 1903, 3,533 may be said to have found occupation in connection with domestic industries for the treatment of perishable produce for immediate use; 34,502 in other industries dependent upon the natural resources of the country, and 35,194 in industries the production from which comes into competition with imported goods :

The number of factories and industrial establishments of various sizes, with the number of hands employed in each class, during 1903, will be found below :—

The capital invested in these establishments amounted to £20,406,841 sterling, of which the land represented £2,855,174; buildings, £5,112,771; machinery and plant, £5,010,896; and cash and sundries, £7,428,000. The horse-power of the machinery used was 41,091, divided as follows:Steam engines, 36,727 horse-power; gas, 3,600 horse-power; and oil, 764 horse-power; in addition to which electric engines, of 1,659 horse-power were used, mainly for lighting purposes.

MANUFACTORIES OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

The manufacturing industries of New South Wales do not cover so wide a field as those of Victoria, nor do they afford employment for as many persons. For the year 1903 the two states compare as follows::

In Victoria, therefore, there were employed 10,615 females more than in New South Wales, and 3,019 fewer males. In order to trace the progress of the manufacturing industry in New South Wales during the last eleven years, it is necessary to adjust the figures for the five years 1891-95, because in 1896 a change was made in the scope of the returns by the inclusion of dressmakers and milliners who were not previously counted as factory hands. Certain other small changes were made, the object of which was to secure uniformity with Victoria. Making the necessary adjustments, the figures since 1891 are as follows: