=d, ad nd on he or of al, ne 10 y 11] NN n- 'S. 8, sh 08 iy 3] 0 4. a i, +5 n 1] a °F Aq ) g a 7 J A Te vd 1 information is available as to the total output of the Gehpyidg, Fin rubber manufacturers. A census of production of the tyre industry 77 pla is taken annually and the details given below regarding this branch” of the industry have been taken from the report of the census of 1928 given in ‘‘ Wirtschaft und Statistik,” published by the German Statistical Department. In Germany there are some 400 factories engaged in all the various branches of the rubber manufacturing industry and the aumber of workpeople employed is 12,000 to 15,000. Some of the firms engaged in the rubber manufacturing industry represent very large units, and it is estimated that a dozen of them account for 70 per cent. of the total weight of the goods produced. In recent years most of the German factories have been enlarged and recon- dilioned with new machinery and, though the capital stringency since the stabilisation of the currency has operated as a brake upon production, the German manufacturers have now passed the most critical post-war phase, and, aided by lower labour charges and efficient equipment, are competing keenly in the world markets. The manufacture of rubber insulated cables is very extensive and the manufacture of surgical and hygienic rubber goods has long been a speciality in Germany. Other miscellaneous rubber goods of all kinds are manufactured in Germany. German manu- facturers have been increasing their output and are paying special attention to the export trade. 102. The principal German tyre manufacturers are :— Continental Caoutchouc & Gutta-Percha Co.. Hanover. Dunlop Co., Hanau. Harburger Gummiwarenfabrik Pheenix A.G., Hamburg. Peters Union A.G., Frankfurt. Vorwerk A.G., Barmen. Deka Pneumatik, Berlin. A. G. Metzler, Munich. The Continental company is the largest manufacturer and it is stated that the company has certain points of contact with the Goodrich company, from which it benefits in American manu- facturing methods. In addition, most large foreign manufacturing firms have agents in Germany for the sale of their tyres. 103. The 1928 census of production which we have mentioned Production above, was compiled from returns supplied by 23 factories. The ©f tyres number of persons in the industry insured by their trade union 1928. was, in 1928, not as high as in the previous year. It was at its highest on the 1st April, 1928, when it was 10,400 compared with 10,700 on the same date in the previous year. On the 1st July, 1928, it was 9,000 whereas on the 1st July, 1927, it was 11,900. Wages and salaries paid during the census year 1928 reached a total of £950,000. The total value of the tyre production at the AJ = dir [2 Gi ~- Ja)