Seventy-Five Years’ History Of Manufacturers’ Association

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27473, 6 October 1954, Page 3

Seventy-Five Years’ History Of Manufacturers’ Association

On July 9, 1879, an advertisement appeared in the Christchurch newspapers announcing that a meeting would be held that evening in Warner’s commercial room to arrange for a petition to the General Assembly against the importation of manufactured articles “or to increase the duty on the same.” < The advertisement was addressed to all employers of skilled labour, and invited coachbuilders, smiths, wheelwrights, and all tradesmen interested in the protection of native industry to attend. A month later the Association for the Fostering and Encouragement of Native Industries and Productions was formed. This was the forerunner of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, which has planned a function next week to celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary. The Native Industries Association, as it was called, held its first general meeting in September, 1879. There was no lack of business for the organisation in its early years, for New Zealand was experiencing bad times in_ 1879. The population of fewer than 500,000 had run up an adverse trade balance of £7,680,000 in 10 years; prices of wool, wheat and other farm products had fallen disastrously; and unemployment was widespread. Measures to prevent the country’s excess of imports and at the same time to raise the level of employment were urgently needed. The first president was Mr Robert Alan, a Christchurch leather merchant, and Messrs G. G. Stead and John Holmes were the first vice-presidents. 'The 16 members of the original com-

mittee represented such diverse industris as building, brick and tile making, watchmaking, coachbuilding, coalrange manufacturing, sheet-iron work, and footwear manufacturing. In 1884 the association was incorporated with the title of the Industrial Association of Canterbury, and continued its activities under this name until 1926, when it became the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. The exhibitions of New Zealandmade products which have kept the association and its member firms before the Christchurch public date back to 1880. In July, 1880, the first exhibition was seen by 26,000, and was praised by the press, visitors, and by a commission appointed by the Government to report on the exhibition itself, and on the quality and extent of local manufactures and the employment offered by industry Many of the exhibitors at that first exhibition were firms which are still in business, among them Andersons, Ltd., Scott Brothers, A. and T. Burt, the Kaiapoi Woollen Company, and the New Zealand Clothing Company (Hallenstein Brothers). The office of the association is now housed in the large building in Oxford terrace that was formerly Dr. W. H. Sheffield’s residence. After letting the upper storey, the association still has ample accommodation on the ground floor for its large board room and several office rooms. The president is Mr John Bradley and the vice-president Mr A. H. Lee. Mr R. L. Alston has been secretary since 1945, and was previously actingsecretary for five years. The association now has a staff of five, and its membership is about 475.