INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15895, 8 May 1917, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

The annual meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association was Jieid last evening in tho Canterbury Hah, Mr J. D. Lauren son presiding over a good attendance of members. The president's report said that they could look back upon one of the most important years of their history, in that it had given birth to their branch Association, the New Zealand Board o' Industries. Their activities in the early part of the year were mainly occupied in arranging for tliis. No fewer than iirtcen meetings were held, and sub-committees from this Association met represent,! Lives of the boot

manufacturers, woollens, iron-masters, printers, coach-biiikt"e!'.i, clothing-mak-ers, wholesale conitvtioners, and thefanners, with the result that they had secured the whole-hearted co-operation of all these leading industries, and the educational work done amongst these importnnt sections of industry was beating, and would continue to bear, very good fruit. One gratifying feature arising; lie had no doubt at least in part from the formation of their Board of Industries, had been the creation of the llovornment Efficiency Board, one of whoso chief functions was the encouragement of existing .industries and promotion of n(-w ones, together with the great task of securing the greatest possible efficiency throughout the whole of our industrial life." As this work was to continue long after the conclusion of the war, he thought they might take some kudos to themselves for their persistence in bringing before the Government the xirgent necessity for the establishment of a Board of Industries. In this connexion, too, the Association was to be congratulated in that the only member representing industrial interests was one of their oldest members and the prime mover in the establishment of the New Zealand Beard of Industries, Mr J. A. Frostiek. (Applause.) At their last annual meeting he- made a suggestion with regard to the holding of a Dominion trade exhibition, to bo known as a Patriotic Exhibition ol New Zealand Industries, to mar'*, the declaration of peace. and the matter was favourably considered. In view of tho present state-of the war, _it might 'be advisable for the incoming eoinmitteo to give early consideration to this matter, as they did not wish other centres t(*> get ahead of them. Unquestionably the Association together with other bodies liad a very serious duty to perform in connexion with tho reinstatement* of returned soldiers in their old avocations or in such new industries as might suit their needs. A sub-committee from the Association was elected some months ago to confer with the C.D.C.," and while thero was not a great deal of -work to do at present there would after tho conclusion of hostilities he :i very great field of work in this direction, and they should be ready to cope with it.

During the past year there had been no lack of work for all who were willing to work, and owing to the complete* revolution of our industrial conditions, duo to the absence of so many ablebodied workers, there would undoubtedly be considerable pressure qn tho labour market for even a year or two after the conclusion of war. He had no doubt that one result of this war would bo that thousands would flock to the Dominions instead of to America —possibly aided bv Imperial subsidies — 'and the result must be not only welcome additions to the ranks of our producers, but a very large impetus our industries generally —"consuraniiition devoutly to be wished." There was, however, one cloud on the horizon, namely; that species of industrial unrest which was the outcome of I.W.W. methods, and more or less disloyal propaganda work promoted by paid agitators and, to their shame be it said, even by some-of our so-called lawmakers'. In a country blessed with the ful ladult franchise, where, if anywhere, government was by the people for the people, this phase of our industrial life demanded serious consideration. One pleasing feature of the closer co-operation' of capital and labour which the war had brought about was the undoubted tendencv f° r a more equal distribution of the resulting wealth, and he had little doubt that one of the surest methods of ensuring against labour difficulties in future would be along the lines of cooperative effort. He had the greatest svmpathy with the legitimate claims of labour, but the extreme destructive tactics of the I.W.W. antagonised every self-respecting citizen, whether in the ranks ofjahour or out of them.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The treasurer's report, presented by ■Mr W. W. Charters, stated that the Association was in a very sound position. The assets were valued at over £4000, represented mainly by shares held in the Canterbury Hall Company, and although the members as citizens would have, been pleased had the ratepayers acquired tlio they would as slioxcholders benefit much more by tho leasing of the hall, as had been arranged. Roughly, tho Te-leasing of the property had made a difference in favour of the Hall Company's revenue of over £'00 a year. In addition ther© was every probability that the vacant ground not included in tho new would be taken as a motor garage, which would further add to the company's revenue, with added benefit to the Association. They owed a debt of gratitudn to Mr J. A. Frostick, who practically conducted tho negotiations with Mess'rs Fuller's for the new lease, and brought them to a succcssful conclusion. Tho Association had paid the Patriotic Committee the iirst half o! the promised contribution to its funds. The Association's contribution to that and other patriotic funds had absorbed, and would absorb, the wholo of the dividends received on the Association's shaves for three years. The receipts for the year were £'277 lis !2d, and the disbursements £263 14s lid. The balanco at the bank was £13 /16s 3d. The balance of assets over liabilities was about £4400. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers resulted a-» followspresident, Mr A. W. Jamiesou; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Black and J. Keir; treasurer, Mr W. \V. Charters; secretary, Mr 11. S. Badger; committee, Miss Tabart, and Messrs J• 13. Laurenson, — boon, O. von Sicrakowski, A. F. Drayton, E. W. R«lph, A. W. Beaven, C. B. Cogan, — Walker, J. Gamble, J. A. Frostick, A Kave, H. R. Best, U. H. Seed, C. Buchanan, J. R. Hayward, and J. Bowie. GENEUAL. Tho sum of £15 los was voted to the Technical College. Mr Laurenson asked the newlyelected president to take the chair, and congratulated him upon his election. Mr Jamieson was president of the Industries Board, and he hoped that by reason of that fact a closer amalgamation of the work of the two bodies would be effected during his terra of Jamieson, in. thanking Mr Laurenson. said he realised the responsibility resting upon him in his dual office, and it would be his aim to amalgamate the purposes of the Industries Board and the Industrial Association. > atJon.il efficicncv should be their aim, and the Board and the Association should both endeavour to give full support to Mi Frostick in his national ofloits. Onn question that would receive his (-r Jamieson's) attention was their rela-

tionship with the -members of tho Labour Council. A week or so ago he had the pleasure of meeting the members of the Trades and Labour Council in their own room. It was a meeting which was fully attended by the Council. Ho was'well received, and after his address a discussion took place. He- believed that lie had left an impres. sion on the Trades and Labour Council, and lie felt confident that they were <rninrr to elect members to net on the Industries Board. It was only by a constructive policy that they couid hopo to break <io\vn some of the barriers that now existed between employers and employees. The matter of holding a patriotic exhibition to commemorate the declaration of peace was referred to the incoming committee on tho motion of Air Charters, seconded by Mr Laurenson. .Mr A. Kayo moved n very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Laurenson on his retirement from the office of president. He had taken up the reins of office when a strong president had been required, anil nil would admit that he had largely exceeded their expectations. Mr Charters lieartily seconded the motion, and referred to Mr Laurenson's linfailing optimism. If they had dono nothing else in the last few years but found the Hoard of Industries, they had justified their existence. The motion was carried with hearty apnlausc. ' Thr- trea.surer, Mr Charters, moved, and Mr Laurenson seconded, that the. Association should accept life members on t!ie payment of £10 10s. Tho motion was adooted. Votes of thanks to the treasurer, the auditor (Mr Cooper), and tho secretary (Mr Badger) were passed.