NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16883, 10 July 1920, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURES.

FORWARD MOVEMENT,

DEVELOPMENT OP INDUSTRIES.

At the annual meeting of the Industrial Corporation, hold in Dunedin in February," a special committee, consisting of three representatives from Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury. and Otago, was set up to revise the constitution, to arrange a plan of campaign to promote the industrial development of the Dominion, and, if possible, to arrange a plan whercundor tho new Department of Industries and Commerce and the Corporation could work in harmony. This special committee met in Wellington on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Mr I''. M. Hills, of Auckland, and had two full days' sittings. Mr J. A. Frostick, who represented the Canterbury Industrial Association on the committee, and who returned from Wellington yesterday, gave a representative of "Tho Press" some details of the work done.

It was decided to recommend to the Associations constituting the Corporation that the name of the organisation should be altered to the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association. Membership will be onon to all engaged or interested in industrial pursuits, employers and employed alike. Tho four military districts of tho Dominion will form the' districts of tho Association —Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago-Southland: each district committee will be empowered to establish subbranches within its territory with the consent of the executive of the Association. It is intended to publish a quarterly journal dealing exclusively with the production of goods within New Zealand—primary, secondary, and manufacturing. As soon as circumstances permit it is proposed to embark upon an extensive propaganda campaign, not onl\- in ithe cities, but also in the country districts, in order to inform country residents of the manufacturing capabilities of the Dominion ; and also to endeavour to show that there is no conflict of interest between tho primary producer and the manufacturer—both occupying important positions in respect of tho development of the country, especially at the present time. Other matters dealt with included consideration of the industrial development already achieved, and tho margin of industrial production still available to meet tho needs of the present population of the Dominion. The value to tho nation of industries, Mr Frostick said, was clearly demonstrated by the figures referring to Australian industries which were placed before tho committee. From these, he added, it appeared that thero aro many new industries which can be introduced into New Zealand with very great profit to it's people. The scarcity of housing accommodation was keenly discussed, but it was thought that the action of the Board of Trade in insisting that the most essential building work should bo done first would relieve tho pressure which, at present, is undoubtedly very crroat The question of holding exhibitions was fully discussed, tho unanimous opinion being that the great value of exhibitions was their educative effect, especially upon tho younger generation. For this reason it was admitted that no opportunity should be lost of exhibiting all classes of manufactured goods in all parts of tho Daminion, whenever occasion offered. More definite information as to the policy to be recommended in respect of exhibitions Mr Frostick'said it was not advisable to give at present. He added that it would be, probably, two or three months before full details of tho work of the conference could bo made public, as it had to be revised and approved by the general organisation; he did not think, however, that any material alterations were likely to he made. The membership of the Association is very large, comprising, as it does, the bulk of the persons, firms, and companies engaged in New Zealand i manufactures.