Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/271

 PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY 21 !»

of livestock in the Union were as follows : — 5,575,488 cattle : 695,138 horses ; 81,150 mules; 498,616 donkeys; 282,070 ostriches; 28,491,500 sheep; 5,842,270 goats; 724,007 pigs. * (This census covered rural areas only, to the exclusion of towns, villages, an 1 native reserves.)

The production of wool and mohair (1919 exports : wool, 184,952,800 lbs. ; mohair, 16,942,021 lbs.) is being maintained. The slump in ostrich feathers during the war seriously reduced the output, though with the signing of the Armistice toward the close of 1918 the feather industry underwent a rapid revival (exports, 1919, 105,000 lbs., 1,646,000/.). In 1919 hides and skins valued at 4,992,597/. and wattle bark valued at 386,096/. were exported.

Cotton -growing is now undertaken by many farmers, tha plant being found a better drought resistant than either tobacco or maize. The 1919 yield was approximately 1,418,600 lbs. of seed cotton. The production of sugar continues to increase, the output in the Union in 1916-17 being esti- mated at 114,500 tons ; in 1917-18, 106,250 tons ; in 1918-19, 146,553 tons. The area under tea is approximately 4,136 acres, from which the yield for 1918-19 was 5,744,000 lbs. (green leaf). It is estimated that some 15,000 acres of land suitable for tea plantations are available.

The total extent of forest reserve areas in March, 1919, was about 2,092,000 acres.

Irrigation. — Irrigation development has made rapid strides in the past ten years. Technical and financial assistance is given by the State under the Union Irrigation Law of 1912, which was designed to encouiage irrigation. The Government expenditure on irrigation in 1918-19 was 384,810/. from Loan Funds and 147,733/. from revenue; total 532,543/.

Manufacturts. — The conditions brought about by the war gave an impetus to local manufactures. The production of leather, for which this country is most suitable, has been more than doubled ; a commencement has been made with the manufacture of tanning extract from wattle bark ; in dairy products, increasing activity is everywhere being shown ; and the output of cement is rapidly overtaking the demands of the country. The Union already produces its own requirements in beer and matches. The manufacture of tobacco satisfactorily maintains its position as one of the most important industries in the country. Amongst other commodities which the Union is producing are dynamite, soap, rope, wine, spirits, furniture, vehicles, brooms and brushes, biscuits, «arthenware pipes, and firebricks.

The report on the industrial census in the Union in 1918-19 gives the value added by process of manufacture, kc, as 29,199, 0C0/., ami the value of the gross production of the industries covered at 70,136,000/. The total number of factories which made returns was 6,042. Value of land and buildings, 16,193,000/., machinery, plant, and tools, 20,983,000/., of the fuel used, 2,065,000/., and of materials used 41,017,000/. Average number of persons employed, 143,088 (whites, 53.601). Wages paid, 14,476,000/.

The gross value of the output of the principal groups of industries was: food, drink, kc, 27,098,000/.; metals, engineering, kc, 12,963,000/.; chemicals, fee., 5,616,000/. ; heat, light, and power, 3,743,000/. ; building, &c, 3,349,000/.; clothing, textiles, kc, 2,940,000/. ; books, printing, &c, 2,750.000/. ; leather, kc, 2,664,000/. ; stone, clav, kc, 1,679,000/. ; vehicles, 1,462,000/. ; furniture, kc, 1,332,000/.

Alining. — The table hereunder gives the total value of the principal minerals produced in the Union from the earliest dates of existing records to December 31, 1919. The value of gold is calculated at 4*24773/. per