MANUFACTURERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 9

MANUFACTURERS.

DOMINION FEDERATION.

FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

CONSIDERATION OF REMITS.

The conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation continued its deliberations last ev€ning and to-day when several remits were considered.

The roll-call showed that the following delegates were in attendance: —Messrs. J. A. C. Allum (president), C. A. Whitney, L. Jull, and J. Findlay (secretary), Auckland; .Messrs. T. J. Burton (president), L. A. Brookes, J. T. Spears, R. T. M. Edmonds (secretary), and Frank Campbell, Wellington; Messrs. A. W. Beaven (president), H. Bradley, H. Mills, E. H. Marriner (organiser), Canterbury; Messrs. T. Somerville (president), J. Sutherland Ross, G. W. Reid (secretary); Mr. Denys Hoare (Christchurch) secretary. Others present included Mr. E. W. J. Bowden, local officerin charge of the Department of Industries and Commerce (Auckland), Mr. B. Buttle and Mr. W. D. Munn.

Subsequent to a general discussion, of a lengthy nature in committee the constitution and rules were adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers for the coming year resulted as follows: President, Mr. J. Sutherland Ross, C.M.G. (Dunedin); vice-president, Mr. Frank Campbell (Wellington); secretary, Mr. R. T. M. Edmonds (Wellington); hon. treasurer, Mr. F. W. Vosseller. Remit Re Petrol Tax. The petrol tax was the subject of a remit from the Dunedin Association. It stated that a resolution had been passed pointing out to the Government the unfairness of compelling owners of commercial vehicles in the city to pay a tax for the upkeep of roads which they do not use, and urging that exemption be extended to such persons.

Mr. F. Campbell (Wellington), said it was very difficult to make a category. He did not see the force of sending the remit on with the federation's blessing.

Mr. L. Joll (Auckland), expressed the opinion that any resolution from the lederation would not carry weight.

Mr. J. Findlay (Auckland) was of a similar opinion. He thought that the federation should not take any action which would antagonise the country against the towns.

The remit was withdrawn and it was decided to refer it to the local associations who in turn would be asked to refer the matter to local bodies concerned. Other Remits Considered.

Auckland put forward a remit on the question of urging the Government to set up a tariff board or commission. After discussion a resolution was passed to the effect that the federation should reiterate to the Minister of CustonJs the advis. ability of setting up such a board. A Dunedin remit, "That this conference deplores the huge increase in unfair State and bureaucratic interference in private enterprise and resolves to use its influence to obtain the repeal of such legislation as curtails and interferes with legitimate trading; and further, any business already entered into by the Government should be subject to the same laws, regulations, taxes and conditions as private businesses," was discussed at length. On the motion of Mr. T. Somerville (Dunedin), seconded by Mr. H. Willis (Canterbury), it was decided to support it.