IMPLEMENTS AND THE SHOW.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17277, 15 October 1921, Page 10

IMPLEMENTS AND THE SHOW.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE TRESS." Sir, —I notice in your issue of the: 13th inst., in a report of the meeting of the committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, a paragraph re the committee's opposition to the impositions of any duty, on agricultural implements, the Controller of Customs advising by letter that every opportunity had been given by advertisement to all and sundry to offer evidence to the Commission whkh recently visited Christchureh. The implement makers being only human, like the farmers, it might have been know:; to the members of the A. and P. Committee that they would be, along with others urging on the Commission that their claims to some protection, such as enjoyed by many others engaged in different industries in A'ew Zealand, including the farmers and pastoralists. If the bootmaker, the leather maker, the cloth-maker, the printer, wheat grower, the butter and cheesemaker require protection from outside competition, why not also the maker of ploughs and harrows? What good reason can be offered for us being the only local industry on the free list, more especially considering we bare the two

largest corporations in the world to compete against, and copy our improvements? . I happen to be, however, m a position to throw a 'ixtle light on the somewhat sudden and remarkable activity of the menjibers of the local A. and P. Association in ihis matter of free trade for implement makers. For somewhere about 40 years, those engaged in the implement business in New Zealand, provided —at considerable expense to themselves —a large and attractive display of their goods at the annual shows of the Canterbury A. and P. Association. In the opinion of many visitors, it was the most striking feature of the whole Show. An agitation commenced originally by an American representative, of the International Harvester Company of Ame- | rica, a Mr BoOse, for the discontinuai tion of these exhibits started about 18 I or 20 yetrs pgo. was finally successful in persuading the larger firms in the business to withdraw about eight years ago. Since then at different times, the Canterbury A. and P. Association have endeavoured to persuade the local makers i to return, to their show without sue- | cess. During August last, I rang up 1 the secretary of the Association, and asked him 011 what terms the Association would accept entries, as nif Company wtre considering the question of showing this year. On August 25th, I received an invitation to attend the committee meeting—and bring others interested—on Wednesday 31st of August at 3 p.m. On that day during the forenoon, I attended a meeting of implement makers re the Tariff Exhibition in Wellington to be held this month, and found it necessary to offer not to go to tiie Christchurch Show for this year in consideration of some of the firms exhibiting at the above function at Wellington. I intended going to the committee meeting at 3 p.m. to explain the position to tho committee, but the president rang me up between 12 and 1 and I then gave him the above explanation. At tho next following meeting of the Association, the motion against any duties was unanimously adopted by the committee, and I leave it to tho public to judge the motive of the committee in this belated agitation against duties on agricultural implements. As a matter of fact the committees of the Association for the last 20 years, have themselves largely to blame for tne withdrawal of the implement exhibits by . their neglect of that part of the Show. The implements and machinery have been relegated to the position of the calf with two heads, and the learned pin- and other side shows; so far a9-the commit were concerned it merely amounted to an attractive display which lent colour to tho grounds and brougnt in grist to the mill in the shape of payment for space and increased attendance of farmers and others. It is now 2-< years since the Association held the last competition of implements at Burnside, a drill trial. Up till then, such trials had been a regular part of the programme 'of the Canterbury A. and 1. Association, and had the effect of keep- ' in" those in the implement industry strongly interested in the Associiation Shows. „ . •• I have several times urged the committee to revive that part of their show ; -business, but. without effect.—Yours, etc "' * • j. KEIR. , October 13th, 1921. |