INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 309, 23 September 1908, Page 10

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETINC. The annual meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association was held last evoning, tho president (Mr. F. C Crease) being in tho chair. The committee's annual report stated that the financial position of the association was satisfactory. The year has been an important ono on account of the operation of the new Customs tariff. It had proved, in some instances, to have assisted industries,"without in any way causing a higher price to be paid by tho public. The Prime Minister and the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister-for Customs, were entitled to-the thanks of the manufacturers for the stand they took when the matter of tho Customs tariff was'before Parliament. Tho assistance which the manufacturers really required was from the people of New Zealand. Manufacturers were surely entitled to look to the people to purchase goods made in the when the number of hands employed, and the amount of wages paid, were considered. The question which might bo asked was, "Are these matters considered at all by the people of the Dominion?" Reference was made to New Zealand Industries Week, which the committee thought should be an annual affair. Consideration had been given-by the General Committee to "a proposed Carnival Week, -to bo held at a future date. Other centres had regular carnival weeks, and it had been thought that Wellington should not be behind in such 1 a matter. \- ./ It was pleasing to record the many important buildings which had been erected in Wellington during the year, and v those in course of erection. Reference was made to harbour works in progress or m 'contemplation, which would make Wellington's facilities for shipping second to none in Australasia. _ \ . The Government had decided to purchase the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, This enterprising company had done much for New Zealand. When the line became a Govdrnmont one, it was to be presumed that more frequent trains would be run. If so, the suburbs will become popularised, arid tho congested condition of the city somewhat relieved. Messrs. . Price Bros., Thames, and . Auckland, were to be congratulated for having successfully built more railway. locomotives to tho order of the Government, and Messrs. S. Luke and Co. Ltd., and Messrs. W. Cable and Co. for having each manufactured successfully a large Lancashire boiler for the Wellington City Council's Tramway .power-; house. Thans : were accorded to the Re-gistrar-General, tho Secretary of the Agri-. cultural Department, and tho Government Printer for Departmental literature received. The balance-sheet showed assets as follow Cash at bank, £42 lis. lid.; on fixed deposit, £112- 9s. Bd.; subscriptions outstanding, £23 25.; office furniture, £35 Bs. 9d.; total, £213 12s. 4d. Outstanding liabilities amounted to £3 6s. Bd, accumulated funds £202 12s. 4d., and -excess of income over expenditure for the year £2 13s. id. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. > , . Tho following officers were elected:—Pre-' sident, Mr. A. W. Newton; vice-presidents,' Messrs. S. S. Williams and E. Bull; treasurer, Mr. Hardie Shaw; auditors, Messrs. J. S.Barton, F.1.A.,N.Z., and W. C. Stephens; general committee, Messrs. S. Brice, T. Ballinger, F. C. Creese, J. P. Luke, „W. M'Lay, F. Hodgson, H. Read, G. Norton, C. Palliser, J. Smith, C. E. Carter, H. H. Seaton, G. Winder, R. Tomline, R. : D.' Howarth, A. Ross, 1). Robertson, W. Cable, W. Crabtreo, G. Luke, A. D. Riley, L. R-. Partridge, A. Brown, .and the president of tho Builders' Association. It was decided to pay the usual subscription of £25 to the Technical School. - Votes of thanks wero passed to the retiring president and to tho secretary.