MASTER PRINTERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 6

MASTER PRINTERS

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE T BETTER TIMES AHEAD The twenty-first annual meeting of the New Zealand Master Printers’ Association was held at the Employers’ Federation Buildings last Wednesday. There were present: Mr. T. Somerville (Dunedin), president, in the chair; Mr. W. U. Hargill (Auckland), vice-president; and Messrs. N. Mcßobie (Auckland), A. A. Willis (Wanganui), J. F. Woodward (Wellington), A. J. Benzie (Christchurch), J. Gamble (Christchurch), and A. Dennison (Invercargill), and members of council. Tlie following delegates and members were present: Messrs. R. E. Alpe and G. S. Clark (Aucldand), W. J. Osborn, .11. K. Lankshear, L. D. H. Wliitcombe, 11. Tolan (Wellington), B. E. 11. Whiteonibe, Basil Wliitcombe, W. F. Soper (Christchurch), 11. Harris, W. G. Kiudley. D. Brown, J. Paterson (.Dunedin), S. Harrow (Timaru), A. A. Fisher (Southland), W. F. Hanton (Wanganui), A. 11. Avery (New Plymouth), 11. J. Bushnell (Gisborne), W. J. Palaniountain (Wairarapa). G. Fitzpatrick (d’eilding)- , , ■ Prior to the business commencing, votes of condolence were passed with the relatives of the late Messrs. S. N. Brown (Dunedin), J. Cooke (Dunedin), T. H. Reid (Dunedin), Andrew Gibbon (Dunedin), V. 11. Sanson (Hamilton), and W. Gillespie (Masterton), the members standing in silence. The president (Mr. T. Somerville) in the course of his annual report, referred to tlie appointment of an organising secretary, which had been made during the year. He detailed the success which bad already attended the reorganisation effort, even though the past year had not been a good one for the trade. Touching on the importance of the trade, lie quoted statistics showing that Die combined printing industry was the largest of the secondary industries. If employed 7223 hands, and yielded products to the value of .£4,369,480. The only other industry approaching it was the clothing industry, which employed (1833 hands, and produced articles to the value of £2,515,280.

Trade Particularly Bad. Trade in the printing industry had been particularly bad during the past twelve months, and that fact had created many difficulties for the federation. Present indications were that they had passed the worst period and were now on the up grade. The reason, probably, was that the value of their primary products had risen, and there had also been an increase in volume this year. There had also been an appreciable reduction in imports, and in financial quarters the opinion was freely held that probably in the June quarter a satisfactory balance would be shown in the matter of exports and imports. It seemed a good deal of leeway remained to be made up, and the improvement this year would go a long way in that direction. The coining winter, however, might prove to be a more difficult one than last year, but there was no need to be unduly pessimistic.. By pulling together and working loyally most difficulties would be overcome. The future outlook was brighter, but recovery might bo slower than it had been in the past. For instance, in the slump of 1920-21 the recovery was almost immediate. Time to Organise. The present was a particularly opportune time to organise their resources and put their bouse in order lor the more efficient and economic conduct of the industry. The most urgent call today was to reduce overhead charges, so that they might efficiently serve the community—a community which was. insistent of lower prices. Aitor nil, it ivao impossible to say that the primary industries stood in one isolated place, and the secondary industries in another. Economic conditions nowadays were such that the two were interwoven and inseparably combined. If an attempt was made to treat the two industries ns separate entities, there could only be one result —dismal failure. A largo numer of remits, mainly of a technical nature, were dealt with. Messrs. N. Mcßobie, T. Somerville, and E. W. Clarkson, secretary, were appointed to represented the association at the preliminary discussion under the auspices of the Employers’ Federation to elect delegates to the conference upon the Industrial Laws of Now Zealand, arranged by the Government for March 27. ( . . During the discussion the opinion was unanimously expressed that the printing industry, on account of its being, the largest secondary industry, was.entitled to one delegate of the five assigned, to the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. Elction of Officers. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. W. C. Cargill (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. H. Coull (Wellington); council, Messrs. N. Mcßobie (Auckland), A. A. Willis (Wanganui); A. J. Benzio (Christchurch), T. Somerville (Dunedin), J. F. Woodward (Wellington), J. Gamble (Christchurch), A. Dennison (Invercargill). District Council Representatives:— Messrs. P. W. Bushnell (Gisborne), A. H. Avery (New Plymouth), W. G. Ball (Napier), W. J. Palaniontain (Masterton) A. G. Betts (Nelson), W. H. Richards (Hqkitika), W. H. Foden (Timaru), H. Harris (Dunedin), R-. H. Rhodes Oamaru); Arbitration Court committee, Messrs. N. Mcßobie, J. Gamble, H. Harris, and H. Coull; representative New Zealand Employers’ Federation. Mr. 11. Coull (convener); Customs and Parliamentary Committee, Mr. 11. Coull (convener); auditor. Mr. G. J. J. Foil, F.P.A. (N.Z.), Wellington. At the conclusion of the meeting the retiring president, Mr. T. Somerville was presented with a cheque for a substantia! amount as a. token of the appreciation of members of his services during his two years of office. Very laudatory remarks were made of his sacrifice of time and money in the interests of the trade.