DRAPERS CONFER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 10 February 1927, Page 13

DRAPERS CONFER.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. THE TRADE OUTLOOK. The annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Federation of Drapers, Clothiers, and Boot Retailers was commenced yesterday, and will be continued today and to-morrow. In the absence of Mr p. L. Halsted (president), Mr H. V. Free (vice-president) took the chair. There were approximately fifty delegates present. Mr K. H. Wylcs (president of the Cliristchurch Association) introduced Cr. A. A. McKellar, who, in the absence of the Mayor (Mr .1. K. Archer), officially opened the conference. Cr. McKellar said that the Federation

was tho largest employer of labour in New Zealand, and the prosperity of trade and the welfare of the employees was bound up in the deliberations at the conference. He trusted thai the delegates would enjoy their stay in Christchurch, :md he could assure'them that the Cliristchurch Association would extend hospitality the like of which Cliristchurch delegates had enjoyed in other centres.

Mr Free spoke on the good feeling that existed between the employer and the employee. He hoped that the delegates would find time for recreation whilst in Christchureli, and expressed thanks for the welcome extended. Mr Wyles extended a hearty welcome to the delegates, and hoped that they would leave Cliristchurch with happy meinorics.

Mr W. Sinun, president of the Advisory Board, thanked Mr Wyles on be half of the delegates for his welcome.

President's Address. The president's address, which was read by Mr Simm, was as follows: " "I am satisfied tins tho Federation is worthy of tho whole-hearted support of every draper, clothier, and boot retailer in tho Dominion, and the more widely tho practical work of tho Federation is made known tho greater will become tho membership. Tho fact that union is strength should be borno in mind, not only by small traders, but equally so by tho very largest firms, who may, to my mind, be mistakenly of the opinion that they are so big and strong that they require no assistance from any outsido bodies. "It is to bo regretted that our efforts to secure tho abolition of the C.O.D. parcel system havo not borno fruit so far. I would express tho hopo that theso efforts be not relaxed, and that by sheer persistence, wo shall bo ablo to convince the Postmaster-General that action in the direction wo desire will bo to the benefit of the Dominion.

"I sincerely "hopo that tho conference will givo full consideration to the question of delaying tho opening of the seasons by, say, a month, which, if given offect to, would be for the benefit of tho whole trade. I realise that there arc difficulties to be overcome, but, with tho Warehousemen's ■Association in agreement, they should not prove insuperable.

Tariff Berfsfon. "A commission is now taking ovldenco to assist the Government in its proposed sehome of tariff revision," stated Mr Hals ted's address. "I trust thnt steps will be taken to convince the Government that any increase in duty on articles of general consumption will be detrimental to the welfare of the community as a whole. Such an increase would have tho inevitable result of increasing the cost of living with a consequent demand for higher wages. The primary producer, on whose welfare we all depend, is already burdened with the cost of sending his produce to tho world's markets, whereas the secondary industries are assisted by the cost of importing in addition to the protection afforded them by tho Customs. "Please do not think that I do not sympathise with the manufacturers of the Dominion in their difficulties, but I would suggest to them that they seek for causes other than inadequate Customs duties as a reason for trade languishing. "I hope that this conference will set up a small committee to give evidence before the commission, on behalf of the whole trade. Such a procedure will, I think, bo much more satisfactory than giving evidenco in each centre when possibly contradictory evidence might be tendered.

Exports and Imports. ( "The trade outlook at the present moment deserves your consideration. For somo months past the spending power of tho people has been materially reduced, and this state of affairs will continue until such time as the adverse balance of trade is rectified. Wo are now spending in excess of our income —a very unhealthy state of affairs. "The preliminary trade returns for the year ended December 31st, 1926, show that tho imports exceeded the exports by £4,613,988. For tho previous vear the exports exceeded the imports by £2,805,865, a difference of £7,419,853. I am glad to note that during last year the imports have decreased by £2,566,844, but they will need to be reduced a great deal more before the adverse balance can bo-corrected.

"Motor-cars and accessories are very largely responsible for the adverse trade balance, but I would ask you to carefully consider whether we in the drapery and allied trade 3 are doing as much as we should to help to reduce it. Are some of us not carrying heavier stocks than our turnover warrants? If wo are, we are not only doing the country harm, but injuring ourselves, as big stocks out of proportion to turnover are uneconomic, and must inevitably Tesult in losses to those carrying them." The conference then went into committee, and the election of officers, which was made known, resulted as follows:—President, Mr Free; vice-pre-sident, Mr Geo. Ashley; Fcdcrat.on representative on the Advisory Board, Mr T. Forsyth, M.P. . The election of sis members of tne executive council was held over until to-day.

At Dinner. In the evening the Canterbury Retail Drapers', Clothiers',. Meicers , and Boot Retailers' Association tendered a dinner to the visiting delegates in the Winter Garden, Mr E. H. Uylcs picsidine over a largo attendance. After the loval toast had been honoured, Mr Wyles proposed the toast, "Welcome to .the ViMting Delegates and Guests.'' . In proposing the health of Tlw *ew Zealand Manufactures and Commerce, Mr J. R. Rendell said that the general trade per capita in New Zealand was the largest in the world. Considering the "population, he said, the people- of the Dominion had much to be proud of in the number of articles manufactured in New Zealand. Responding to the toast, Mr J. H. Blnckwell said that, whereas previously from 30 per cent, to 70 per cent, of the population in New Zealand was employed in the production of foodstuffs," the .percentage was now nearer 15 per cent. The capacity of the Dominion to al«orh more peopta depended on the* Growth of the secondary industries. The prosperity and the increase in the population in America was duo

to the development of machinery and primary industries. "Much of Britain's growth has been due to the initiative of its traders in pushing into the furthermost porta of the earth," said Mr A. W. Bewen, when proposing the health of the Federation. The speaker' urged for more unity between retailers and manufacturers in the Dominion. In reply to the toast, Mr Free said that the cultivation of a more optimistic spirit in business was certainly necessary. Mr Ashley, who also spoke, said that undoubtedly the Federation had justified its existence.

The health of the Advisory Board was proposed by Mr A. F. Carey, and responded to by Messrs T. Forsyth, M.P., W. Siram,-and D S. Patrick. "Our Guests" was proposed by Mr W. Machin and responded to by Messrs G. Ashley, H. V. Free, and H. Foster. During tho evening the following contributed to the programme:—Tho CliristcHurch Liedertafel Quartette (Messrs Cookson, Vincent, and Cropp), Mr Frank McDonald, Mr A. L. Cropp, and Mr L. Campbell. Mr G. Worsloy acted as accompanist