MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 21

MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. (fiiisg Association telegram.) WELLINGTON, July 3. The annual conference of the NeW Zealand Association 6penfed to-day. Mi- F. Campbell, president, in the course of a speoeh, stressed the value t>i exhibitions of locally-made goods at Various cefitres. Hopes had been held of the establishment of an Industries Bottrd, btit this had not taken place, though it was evident that the Government realised the necessity for investigations by sUch a bcfdy. It seemed surprising, he said, that the portfolio of Industries and Commerce was apparently the least desiied in the Cabinet, Whereas it should Claim the best efforts Of the most active man to be found. Ia regard to the unemployment report, he thought that Whatever was brought down tills session in the way of legislation deserved thoughtful support rather thati idle, destructive criticism. A progressive move of some kind was essential. He personally Was strongly in fiiVtfur Of a return of immigration to the country. The trouble to-day was that New Zealand was stagnated. If industry was arranged to suit tlie country would go ahead.

Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr G. Finn, Auckland; vicepresidentj Mr J. T. Spears, Wellington; treasurer, Mt J. Findlay, Auckland; Mr F. N. Hill, Auckland. The ffceoriimeiidations of the Unemployment Comhiittee were supported by several delegates. Mr G. Fihii (Auckland) expressed himself strongly against any scheme of unemployment insurance, but bowing to the opinion of the meeting withdrew the portion of his remit relating to insurance.

The temit submitted by M* Finn was as follows:—"That this conference is strongly of opinion that unemployment Insurance in any form, is an aggravation of, rather thai a cure for, unemployment j that a properly-constituted Development of Industries Board could do much to Solve the unemployment problem and that the Government be again approached with regard to its establishment." After discussion and the elimination of the first sontence, the remit was carried. State Purchases. Mr Finn moved: "That this conference requests that the instruction!) given by the Prime Minister last year to Government Departments to purchase wherever possible New Zealand-made goods be strictly enforced, and that when comparing prices of imported goods with those of local manufacture, it shall be comptilsory for all Departments to take into Consideration the duty which would be payable if the goods were bought by a private consumer."

Mr Jinn Said it Was felt that the inMrtfdtton given had iiot received the full attention of the Departments, and the natter Should be brought to the notice df the Minister. Mr F. Campbell (Wellington) said the trouble was with the smaller purchasing Officers and not /With the heads of Depaftmeilts. After a discussion, it was agreed to write expressing appreciation of the instructions issued and, urging that efforts be maintained to see that tho instructions are closely followed by all purchasing officers. '

Customs duties. The following remit from the Wellington Association was carried: —"That this conference requests the Government that instructions be given to the Stores Control Board that where materials are tendered for tinder specification such specification shall be deemed definitely adequate, and protective of all requirements, also that no deviation from any specification in any form shall be permitted unless all tenderers are duly advised and given the opportunity of varying their quotation.' ' The following Dunedin remit was carried:—"That the Government be urged to extend as rapidly as possible the list of articles upon which the extra.primage duty of one per cent, is remitted with a view to the early removal of the whole of this form of taxation, and that in the meantime it is submitted that in all cases where the duty is remitted on any manufactured article there should be a corresponding remission on all raw materials used "by local factories in the manufacture of a similar article." It waa agreed that the Customs Department be asked to revise the incidence of classification for duty on raw materials used in the manufacture or repair of articles within the Dominion. It was further agreed to urge that the proportion of the British preferehtial tariff be altered from 50-50 to 75-25, it being contended that a great amount of goods was coming into the Dominion in which a lot of work and. material eatne from the Continent, the British friipdftion being down to the minimum. A DUftedin proposal was carried that the Federation take steps to co-operate wltS the Federation for the § purpose of bringifig about improvements ifl theniethodd adopted and the nneijjles followed by the Arbitration otirt in dealing With awfirda involving kn ifiereased burdeii of labour costs on manufacturers. A recommendation wis carried that the federation executivo should make sffenuottb efforts to institute a Domin-ion-wide publicity campaign to advocate preference for New Zealand-made goods.Reference was made to the success of the Auckland campaign of extensive advertising in the daily papers.