THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 217, 12 September 1911, Page 5

THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY.

PROTECTIVE TARIFF WANTED. MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED. AUCKLAND DELEGATES APPOINTED The condition of the engineering industry in the Dominion is fast approaching a crisis, and the seriousness of the situation is realised by ironmasters throughout the country. The source of the trouble lies in the inability of the New Zealand engineering firms to compete with the imported machines—that is, so that they may reap a fair profit on a sale. At present, although New Zealand made machines of various kinds are turned out here and sold at about the same price as the imported article, yet the return is so small as to -discourage firms from making whole hearted attempts to manufacture machinery to any great extent. For instance, according to a member of the Ironmasters' Association, the English machine comes here duty free, and the only cost of landing is the freight dues. This means that the New Zealand firms have to turn out their machines at a similar price without regard to the increase in the cost of labour here. Where men in the workshops at Home were getting their 35/ a week, the man here got his 11/ a day, and it was not fair competition. If a protective tariff were put on the imported goods, the New Zealand engineer would ! be able to go heart una soul into the manufacture of machinery. The result would be that they would be able to turn out an article just as cheap as at present because the increased output would justify it.

The seriousness of the position was discussed at a meeting of the'lronmasters' Association last evening, two delegates, Messrs George Fraser arid J. Gillett, being appointed delegates to attend the conference at Wellington and to approach tlie Prime -Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, with the object of putting before him the urgent need* of a protective tariff on imported machinery. Speaking on the subject to a "Star" reporter this morning, Mr George Fraser. of Messrs Fraser and Sons, engineers and ironfounders, Auckland, said that at the present time it was a hard job to keep competent engineers in the country, because there was no continuity of work, Increased wages would not keep them, because the jobs were intermittent, and when they reckoned up the money received in a year it amounted to very little more than the labourers'. Unless some change came along and allowed the New Zealand firms to compete with imported goods on a little more level footing, it was better to drop manufacturing and simjlJV remain as workshops. Where his firm used, 25 vears ago, to employ between 300 and 350 hands, they now had but 120.

There was absolutely no cucouragement to develop the apprentice into a ir-ood engineer, because after they had trained him. he left the country and gave others the benefit of their training.