MANUFACTURED FEDERATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19972, 5 July 1930, Page 4

MANUFACTURED FEDERATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR COMMERCE. [THE FSKSS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 4. Speaking at the luncheon of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, after apologising for the unavoidable absenco of the Prime Minister owing to pressure of Parliamentary duties, complimented the Federation on the. work it was doing to encourage and develop the secondary industries of the Dominion. The Minister remarked that the products of New Zealand industries could hardly be surpassed, with few exceptions, by similar commodities produced overseas. He was pleased to note that in many industries during ( the past year there had been greater activity and more persons employed than in the previous year. The total salaries and wages bill had increased by 1.25 per cent, to just over '£I7,COO,CKX). Value of products bad increased by r,6.20 per cent, to over £93,000,000. The capital invested in the Dominion's manufacturing industries was approximately £67,500,000. "I can assure you,'' said the Minister, "of the Government's interest in our manufacturing industries, and of its whole-hearted support of any sound reasonable scheme for their future development, and encouragement. I think the Government made its attitude clear last year, when it pronounced the adoption of a definite policy in regard to the purchase of stores, a policy of giving preference to goods manufactured in New Zealand, provided quality, price, , and other factors relating to delivery are equal, or approximately so. "The Government has manifested its interest in other ways, as, for instance, by the work of the Timber Industry Enquiry Committee, which had for its object the encouragement of the greater use of New Zealand-grown timbor by enquiry into the use of New Zealand timber for fruit and other cases with the object of using a larger proportion of local timber, and bv the work of the Footwear Committee, which dealt exhaustively with the present difficulties facing the boot and shoo industry. In this latter connexion the committee's report made valuable recommendations of a constructive nature, which I hope will be adopted in order to overcome the difficulties revealed by the enquiry." Standardisation of Methods. Standardisation of methods in industry it was stated at the conference can benefit both the industry and tho consumer in reduced costs and prices. Dr. Marsden, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, addressing the conference, referred to tho establishment of a standard laboratory as most necessary in New Zealand, standardisation being essential especially in engineering. Standardisation was the underlying factor in building up the secondary industries. Local bodies in making specifications should allow local manufacturers to have a say in the matter to make sure that local conditions would suit the specifications. Ho quite realised the difficulties in standardisation between Great Britain and America and New Zealand. Great Britain bad been a little slow in realising tho .part standardisation could play in industry, find New Zealand, unless manufacturers. could find a more rapid adaptation to continually changing and improved methods, would find it difficult to keep its place with the rest of the world.

Mr F. Campbell (Wellington) said New Zealand manufacturers must undoubtedly give a lead in standardisation in consonance with New Zealand conditions, ,If standards above New Zealand qualifications were set it might mean further unemployment. Mr I. Woolf (Canterbury) said that Dr. Marsden had made several visits to Canterbury factories and had made s'omo 'very valuable suggestions. Mr E. W. Acldand (Wellington) referred.. to. the great economies-; mad 9 possible by the standardisation within limits of olectrie lamps. Somo years agd- thore were no fewer than 700 kinds of lamps. Now in the whole world there were only 67. The result was that the prices were greatly Tedueed. Mr J. T. Spears referred to the need for the check; on standards on certain imported products. One even found Government Departments issuing specifications without finally insisting on the standards specified. Messrs J: Burn and J. T. Spears were appointed delegates to confer, with Dr. Marsden and his officers regarding standardisation in the engineering trade.

. presentation. A presentation of a gold cigarette case was made to Mr F. Campbell, or Wellington, retiring president. Reference to Mr Campbell's valuable worJc during his term of office was made by, the newly-elected president, Mr O. Finn, of Auckland, who also mentioned .that it was intended to present Mrs Campbell with a handbag made m New Zealand of New Zealand leather. Coal Carbonisation. Use of the Dominion's coal resources for coal carbonisation was referred to when Mr F. Campbell spoke of the belated consideration being given by tho Government to the to establish a company in Southland for coal oarbonisation purposes. Mention was made to similar (companies which haid started operations in the Waikato. According, to the discussion the Southern company was desirous of obtaining a contract with a-Government Department, for" if that was doriOj a considerable amount- of British capital would bo forthcoming to put the work in hand. Mr Campbell said the Federation had written to Cabinet" stressing the point that from an economic and employment point of view the Federation • believed'' the . proposed' industry offered a splendid opportunity for the development of one of the Dominion s natural resources, and it considered the Government should do what it could to encourage such a company to commence operations. Mr G. w. Reid (Dunedin) agreed, that the Federation should encourage the general of establishing tho industry, but they should make no attempt to coerce the Government into giving a contract. Reference to a scheme which was promoted and was to operate in the Rutt Valley was made by Mr E. W. Acland (Wellington), who said it was dropped owing to i)he attitudo of Labour, who apparently wanted to make a better bargain. The-financial crisis then came, and the legislation was dropped. Tli« Government had not given it much encouragement, and it would help if the Federation would endorse it to the extent that the Government should encourage new industries. Mr (jampbell, agreed that it. was a pitv the Hntt ValJev scheme was not gone on with. It was considered that in writing to the Cabinet the Federation had done all it should, and the discussion ended.