COACHBUILDERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 5

COACHBUILDERS.

NINTH ANNUAL CONVENTION.

HBST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

' The ninth annual convention of the New Zealand Coach and Motor V ehic e Trades Industrial Association 6f ployers was opened iir the Ridgler * ' on Saturday morning, Mr J. «. bcur (Dunedin), the president, m the chair. There were present :-Messrs J. W. Scurr, .president (Dunedinj; W. J- ™ &7w°lfield, C. Rush, H. Black, J. TV. T «O - liagton): W. J. Boon, A. C. ~?m- r Prvce, Johnston, Smith (Chriatcht'.c )> • Joll, W. A. Harrison (Auckland); J- s^. v ®£" son \lnvcrcargiii); Geo. Dash Apperly (Napier): D. Wallace (Te Aroha), D. H. Tavior, C. Cooper (Puiieko-ic) , ALeach (Inelewood): H. Durr (Ba.xlutia), and E. C. Harvie, the secretary iPaJmerstoa North).

Civic Reception.

The president, in introducing the Mayor, said that those who did not know Dr. Thacker personally, knew him by reputation as a man who fought for what he believed to be right. The Mayor, who was received with applause, said t hat federations such as theirs were significant of that unity which, in looking after the interests or the individual, also looked after the interests of the community. Ho indicated hoiv the progress made in motor vehicles had contributed to the winning of the war for civilisation, and said that further developments in the same direction were going to be the greatest determining factor in the progress or civilisation. Motor transport, whether in the air, on land, or sea, would become tiro predominant means- of transport; railways were going to become the donkeys of transportation. Federations such $s theirs should assist the Government and local bodies in making wise provision for the control of.motor traffic. It was necessary that every driver of a motor vehicle, and every motor mechanic, should be a fully qualified man. He noted that in England every driver and chauffeur was . required to have a framed copy of his license in the machine he was this was done because it was recognised that the 'life and well-being of the community were in these men's hands, lhe public required protection \ii respect of speed limitation: he noted that four to' sis. miles an hour was fixed; such a limit might be more dangerous than if twenty miles an hour were permitted. The proper lighting of all vehicles was highly necessary, as was also the regulation of traffic. In all these matters the Federation could assist. If he had it in his power lie would close streets in the vicinity of city sclioolsi during the children's lunch hour. He com.plimented the builders of motor vehicles in the Dominion, and said that they had shown that with equal facilities" they could put together any part of n- car on a chassis as efficiently a - s could be done in any other part of tho world. (Applause.) He spoke at some length on the subject of good roads, antf the necessity for more and- better accommodation for visitors in the Dominion's cities and towns. Concluding, 1 the Mayor drew the attention of the members of the convention to the many attractions that Christchurch provided for visitors. ' , The president, in conveying the thanks of members to the Mayor for his hearty welcome, said .that Christchurch people had a right to be proud 'of their city; it was at least one of the holidav cities of the Dominion: every time lie himself visited it ho liked it better. (Applause.) Mr E. C. Harvie (secretary) said that the industry was one that required a. certain amount of assistance from the Government. It had been, to some ex>tent s misrepresented to tlie Tariff Commission by motor importers, who alleged that the motor-body builders were out for a high duty on imported bodies; such was pot the case, and they would take the earliest opportunity to refute this misrepresentation. He' thanked the Mayor for his compliments to the trade, and paid a tribute to the coachbuilders of Christchurch. He had had an, opportunity of seeing what was being done in Christehurcn in the matter of motor-body building, and sdid thatit was quite equal to anything that came from the Old Country. Christchurch jhad been always famed for its excellence in the art of coaclibuilding: other parts pf the Dominion looked to its coachbtlllders for a lead: men with a thorough training in the industry had landed in Chrotchurch, and had made their names-familiar ' not only throughout New Zealand, but also throughout Australia. The body-build-ing industry had got on to a very sound basiß in Christchurch, and manufacturers had taken a lead in the excellence of the work'and the quantity of it. Mr Harvie referred to the necessity for training apprentices, and said that it was recognised that there were too many unskilled men in the Dominion, and that it WQuldbe mpre advantageous to the Dominion if gome of those engaged on the wharves learnt some trade that would be more useful to the people of the Dominion. The Mayor asked thpt the contention should reduce to writing its requirements in respect of the and ho would undertake to bring those requirements directly before the Minister, the Hon. W. Downio Stewart. After the Mayor retired, the convention went into business session.

President's Address.

The president gave an address outlining the past history of the Association. Although, he said, the year had been a good one, they were now approaching a more strenuous time, with a lowering of prices all round. Mr Scurr spoke of his experiences in Australia, where he considered the conditions were more favourable than. here.

Tariffs Matters.

• The president introduced -the question of tariff revision, and referred to the misrepresentation made by the motor traders in giving evidence befo-.e the Tariff Commission recently in WeiL. Joll read extracts from the "Radiator" in connexion, with, this matter. He claimed tfhat the coachbuilders had not made any more recently in the direction of gaining more protection, but considered tho Federation should now put their case before the Tariff Commission. Tho trade had proved its ability to produce on article worthy of the Dominion, <and in. order to provide employment and lo establish the industry on a sound fooling, some adequate protection was • necessary. Mr Wallace (Te Aroha) referred to anomalies in the' Customs taiiff. • Ho claimed, also, that the country coachbuilders were heavily taxed by the high railway freights on imported hardwood. A committee was set up consisting of Messrs \y. J. Cousins, D. H. Taylor, H. Stevens, J. W. Scurr, J. E. Nesbit, and E. C. Harvie, with power to add to their number, to frame proposals to put before the Tariff -Revision Committee.

Next Year's Convention.

It was decided to accept the Hawke's Bay Association's -invitation, to hold the next convention at Napier. Owing to difficulties experienced" in getting accommodation at holiday periods, it was decided that next year's convention should be held in the second week in June. The convention adjourned till 10 a.m to-day. '

Smoking Concert.

. The delegates were entertained by the members of the Canterbury Coachbuilders' Association at a smoke concert on Saturday evening. Mr William Pryce presided, and opened the proceedings with the ton6t of "The King." The toast of "The National Association"' was proposed by Mr George Dash, and responded to ,by Mr J. W. Scurr. Other

toasts honoured were: "Oar Local Association," "The Army and Navy," and The Visitors." Songs were given by Messrs T. Cooper, R. Higman. J. Crowhurst, and J. Rawlings, and tne humorous stories by Mr W. J. Bijon added considerably to the enjoyment of all present.

The wives of delegates were the guests of the Canterbury Coachbuilders' tiiuployers' Association at a theatre party on Saturday evening, and rttended the performance of "The Great Adventure," by the Marie Tempest Company,