MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21334, 29 November 1934, Page 10

MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING CO-ORDINATION SCHEME The fifty-fifth annual meeting of The Canterbury Manufacturers' Association was held last evening at the Melody Lane Cafe, Mr F. W. J. Belton presiding. There was a large attendance, and after the formal business addresses were given by Mr A. E. Mander, general secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, and by Mr J. W. Thomas. The annual report of the association has already been published. Mr Belton said that the year had been strenuous, and the coming year promised to produce its share of difficulties. The proposed co-ordination scheme propounded by the federation would give rise to many problems, but the scheme had been put forward honestly in the belief that it was in the best interests of manufacturers. Its purpose was to give tike individual firms in various industries an opportunity under the most favourable circumstances to come together at a round, table in an endeavour to improve their collective and individual efficiencies. Need for Broad Outlook "The main requirements for success are goodwill, honesty of purpose and breadth of outlook," Mr Belton continued. "Each industry must not only consider the problems confronting it by looking inwards, it must look outwards at the rest of the community and consider its obligations. By that I mean in particular, that while every industry if it is to exist j must be profitable, profit must not be the only objective. "It is to be hoped that through the conferences which various industries will hold under the co-ordination j scheme, means will be found for improving and cheapening goods and also, perhaps most important of all, for absorbing really appreciable numbers of extra workers of all classes. I feel confident that when manufacturers, both large and small, realise the urgency of the work lhat the federation has undertaken, they will be more than ever loyal in their support of the district associations which together form the federation." Mr Belton expressed his thanks to the executive and to the women's auxiliary for the way the work of the association had been carried on, and particularly to the winter sftow executive and to the secretary. General Business Mrs W. Machin, en behalf of the women's auxiliary, thanked the president and the executive, as -well as the women's committee, and particularly its secretary (Miss F. L. Cooper) for the assistance given during the year. She also praised the work of Mr E. H. Marriner at. the Winter Show. A notable feature of the work of the year had been the co-operation of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union at the Winter Show. As a possible activity of the auxiliary for the coming year, she suggested the encouragement of children's interest in New Zealand manufactures, possibly by some form of competition. Miss Cooper emphasised that in the work of the association, the combined efforts of men and women were necessary. She regretted that many slhopkeepers did not give greater prominence to New Zealand made goods. Greater co-operation between manufacturer and retailer seemed to be needed. Mr J. \V. Thomas gave a talk about, co-operation among members, with special reference to the social side. Officers Elected The following officers were elected: —President, Mr C. H. Burson; vicepresidents, Messrs' A. M. Hollander R. H. Webb, and H. B. Duckworth;general committee, Messrs R. E Berry, E. D. Brown, J. R. Hayward' H. Lee, S. H. Maddren, C. S. McCully, W. A. Pattison, H. F. Sewell J. W. Thomas. E. H. Marriner, S. L Wright, C. S. Peate. A. M. West. D. V Wilson, Hugh Anderson, C. J. Morrison. W. H. Cattell, Stan Holland, H. C. C. Govan. and J. Mason. The entertainers were Messrs Clive Hindle. Dan McKivett, and Bert Goodland.