THE COLONY'S IRON INDUSTRIES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11346, 8 August 1902, Page 3

THE COLONY'S IRON INDUSTRIES.

DEPUTATION TO THE ACTTNG-P-ffIMEER. (SPECIAL TO "THE PBJSSS.") WELLINGTON/, August 7. A deputation from the ironmasters of th© colony, consisting of Messrs Fraser (Auckland), McGregor and Brindsley (Dun-din), and Cable, Robertson, Crabtree, and Seagar (..ellington) was introduced to the Acting-Premier this morning by Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R. Mr Cable said he wished to point out the present depressed state of the iron trade in the colony, and to ask the Government if it could not see its way to give some relief in the way of a modification of the .present tariff. Dredging material was allowed to come in in duplicate parts at 5 per cent., and though there were hundreds of men out of employment in the colony, they could not possibly compete with foreign prices. In the dairy industry requirements, also, it was simply impossible to compete. Seeing that in .NewZealand all were working under the Conciliation and Arbitration Acts, they thought they might fairly ask for some consideration. He would ha glad if some rolling stock orders could be given to private firms. At the time the Government previously invited tenders the various * foundries of the colony were so fully occupied in connection with work for the dredging industry that they could not take up work of this kind, or very little of it. Another request was that Government should supply tenderers for public and other works with schedules of quantities, so that possible tenderers need not go to the expense of so mucn. as £70, or even £100, in taking out quantities, and afterwards find that their tenders were not accepted. The plans were often of an intricate nature, and it was only reasonable to suppose that the engineer who drew them up should best be able to take out the quantities, etc. A charge, of £1 Is or £2 2s would meet the case. 'Mr McGregor endorsed what Mr Cable bad said. Mr Robertson said that, as regards dairy boilers, those who imported them obtained a profit of 25 per cent-, and the dairyman did not get the advantage of this, as it went to the middlemen. These boilers could be made in the colony. A great number were made in America, while the men wanted work here. According to the report of the Chief Inspector of Machinery for last year, out of 400 new boilers, 170 only were made in New Zealand. These could be manufactured locally. This work would absorb a lot of unemployed labour. The dredging boom had brought a lot of labour tp ths front, and now that it had fallen off the men were idle, walking about the streets. He would like to see the Government assist in this matter. Sir Joseph Ward said that, personally, he would be only too tjlad to do anything in his power to help to keep the additional woik in the colony. As to the adjustment of the tariff," that was a veiy delicate matter, even under the. most favourable conditions, and it was too late to bring up the question this session. He would, however, bring, up the recommendations made for the consideration of the Government. As to the manufacture of rolling i-tnck, there had been only one order given outside the colony since he was 'Minister for Railways, and that was a case of absolute necessity. Th« Government 'had tried to get the waggons made in this country, but only 225 had been taken up by private firms. The Government would have taken 1500 at the time if it could have get them within a reasonable time. The execution of these ord?rs without long delay was of the greatest importance to the. colony at that time. He would be giad to go into the question of the requirements of the colony, and if the capacity of the workshops was net sufficient to turn out the additional waggons required for the railway, he would than be only too happy to favourably consider the giving c.i some orders to private firms in the different parts of the colony. He might say further that he had made up his mind to have some locomotives manufactured in the colony, and some time ago had given instructions fcr the construction in New Zealand of ten very powerful but plainly constructed 'locomotives, with the object of encouraging their manufacture here Tender.s would be invited shortly, and the construction would be spread over the colony, and he sincerely hoped the foundries of New Zealand would be able to supply them. The Government were prepared to pay a little more than the), engines could be imported for, in crder to keep the money in the colony, and he himself was very anxious that this should be done. In regard to the Government supplying the schedules and specifications of public and other works, he would discuss -he question witJh the Minister for Public Works. IJe could see no reason why the schedules should not bs supplied by the Department concerned at a moderate cost, but with the provision that the Government would not bs held any more responsible than any private individual who might compile them. While the Government would do its best to see that the schedules were complete and correct, it would not be responsible for any error or for any unforeseen contingency that might crop up, and which the judgment of the officer cenrerned could not have avoided. It would not do to have the tenderers afterwards coming to the Government, and saying it (the Government) had supplied the particulars and must bs held accountable for any los:s arising. Mr Cable referred to the lien of 25 per cent, which new existed for the protection of workmen's wages, and said it was excessive, and was the msans of impounding a large amount of capital. Mr McGregor would like to see the 25 per cent, made a first charge on the Company requiring the material ear-marked, in fact in some cases the 25 per cent, was held bach, the machinery vas supplied to the ordering Company, and the manufacturer got nothing in "the end. 'Sir Joseph said he would look into the representations very carefully, and would get the opinion of the law officers thereon.