MANUFACTURERS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 11

MANUFACTURERS.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION. j ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association was held List night, Mr A. W. Boavon presiding. Tho adoption of tho annual report and balnnco-sheet, a summary of which has boon published, was moved by tho president. This was seconded by Mr U. Rrntlloy, who referred to tho good service which the retiring president h»d rendered tho Association. Election of Officers. Tho election of officers resutlcd an follows:—President, Mr H. Bradley vice-presidents, Messrs I. Woolf, r' L. Hutchinson, and Arehbold; lion, treasurer. Mr W. W. Charters; executive,, Messrs A. VV. Beavcn, F. W. J. Belton, 11. Burson, juu., l'\ T. Boyc.-, G. W. Congreve, S. 11. Mtiddron, K. H. Webb, G. Thomas. U. Willis, J. Melhuish, R, W. Ower, H. J. Edwards Peppier, It. Spencer, \ al Evans, and F. Joyce; auditor, Mr T. R. strange. Industrial Developments.

Iu proposing the toast of 'Our Honoured Quests, Mr .T. W. Collins and Dr. Hansen," Mr F. L. Hutchinson said that industrial progress was tho most serious concern cf all nations and Governments of the present day. Tho problems of political economy wero far more serious than tho old contentions of Party leaders and tho balance of power. Now Zealand had como to tho period of her ovojution when manufactures must bo developed, otherwise stagnation and depression would pet worse than it was to-day. New Zealand had gone through its earlier stago of agrarian development, and, liko other now countries which had gone through those stages, the country must develop industrially. Tho United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and tho Atgcntino had all begun with agricultural growth _ and had then developed thoir cities with n: manufacturing community. Ho had uo sympathy with those people who decried the growth of cities, which presented the greatest problems, but also the greatest difficulties of advancement in education and a higher lifo for tho people. If authority was wanted for saying that the true way to bring prosperity to New Zealand was by ft development of its secondary industries that authority was now presented in the views of tho newer economists, who olearly showed that the importation or overseas goods, however cheap, while New Zealand's men and women remained idle or were forced to go into poorer jobs, did not add to but took away the wealth of the Dominion. As the truth of these views was recognised a. new day would dawn for New Zealand. Dominion's Progress. Mr Collins, responding, Baid that he had to congratulate the Association on the successful year it had just passed through and on the possession of such a fine lot of assets. He would aIBO like to state that the loc'ent exhibition held in the King Edward Barracks was the best of its kind held in the Dominion during the year. With regard to the industrial development of tho Dominion, he would like to point out that in the last 11 years tho number of employees had increased by 41 per cent., the total amount of wages paid to employees by 156 per cent., and tho value of production by 82 per cent. Canterbury had practically, kept pace with the rest of the Dominion so far as industrial developments were concerned. Sir Douglas Mawson, who was associated with a large project in the South Islaitd whereby nitrates was to be extracted, had assured him that £6,500,000 of the capital required had already been raised, and in a few years' time there would be a community of 2000 souls-in Doubtful Sound. (Applause.) Considering the tobacco industry, it was interesting to note that the production of the' leaf meant' £IOO,OOO to little Nelson alone last year, while in Napier there was a factory engaged in the preparation of tobacco which gave ployment to 300 workers. The pig iron : industry was destined to become one of the principal key industries of the Dominion.. Great developments were also taking place in Canterbury in the manufacture of electrical ovens, etc. The glass industry was also making progress in New Zealand, and it might be of interest to know that a wellequipped industry was that of making cinematograph projectors. Dr. D. E/ Hansen, Director of the Christchurch Technical College, assured those present that the Btudents attending the College ,were a splendid lot, who were keen and attentive, and that the boys were as intelligent and able ai any other hoys in the world. He appealed to employers to take as many apprentices in tLeir employ as watf pos- , Bible. There was a tendency, he went on, to give preference to, imported workers at the.expenße of the New Zealand worker. This had the effect of forcing the local boys in the ranks of the .unskilled wdrkers. There was another matter which he might touch on; this was the facilities given to British boys to-go on the land in the Dominion. He had nothing against British boys, but he did not regard it as right that they should be treated better in this re-, spect than New Zealand boys. (Applause.) The toast of "The Visitors" was proposed by Mr H. Willis and responded to by Mr Norton Francis (Canterbury Chamber of Commerce) and Mr J. G. Lancaster (headmaster of tho Boys' High School). Tho toast of "Kindred Societies" was proposed by Mr H. Bradley and responded to by Messrs J. E. Strachan (Progress League) and J. W. Graham (Employers' Association). A number of vocal items also figured in the programme.