TRADE GROUPS PLANNED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 12

TRADE GROUPS PLANNED

ORGANISATION OF INDUSTRY SCHEME IN OPERATION IN WELLINGTON EXTENSION TO WHOLE OF DOMINION Plans for the organisation of industry throughout the Dominion into a series of groups representative of every phase were announced at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, The new development has been carried out at the request of manufacturers’ representatives on the Bureau of Industries and Commerce, and is partly the outcome of an address by the Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, at the conference of manufacturers in Wellington last year, when he said that he would deal with industry only through representative groups acting as a united body and not with individuals.. The new plan has been instigated by the bureau, and the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation with, the backing of the Minister at all times, it was stated. The secretary, Mr T. Hyde, in his report to last evening’s meeting, said that eight new members had been brought into the association largely as a result of the formation of representative trade groups. A number of meetings of groups had already been held. Further consideration of the matter was taken in committee. A statement issued later said it was the general opinion of the federation find all associations that an immediate organisation must be pursued in the formation of groups representative of all industries. The Government on a number of occasions had expressed most definitely and strongly that it desired to deal with a representative and authoritative voice of an industry instead of with individuals. The necessity was made more imperative by the Industrial Efficiency Act. “It must be realised,” the statement continued, “that any member of the public can allege that certain conditions exist in an industry and an investigation will be made along the lines, of the allegation and thus along purely erroneous lines. This contingency presents grave difficulties to the Bureau of Industries and Commerce, ■when, situations arising from allegations , are being reviewed, as it has only one angle. Cq- operation With Bureau “Unless there is a trade group which the bureau can approach to obtain either counteracting advice or a truer perspective it might result in its having no alternative but to subscribe to a plan which might not meet the best interests of the public or the industry. Manufacturers are. realising the necessity .for trade groups and numbers have already been formed. An inteni aive plan is being introduced to ensure that all spheres of industrial activity will be carefully watched to serve best. the interests of all concerned,” the statement concluded. , It i$ understood that as well as in Christchurch groups are being formed in 'Auckland and have been in operation in Wellington for some time. . • An .invitation was issued from the \ meeting to the president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation. Mr XX .Henry, of Auckland, and the newly-appointed secretary, Mr M. R. O'Shea, tq visit Christchurch and address all manufacturers on the necessity; of trade groups with a view to cooperation with the Government. Visits are also to be paid to other centres.