TRADE GROUPS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 121, 16 February 1937, Page 8

TRADE GROUPS

Wellington First To Organise

Organisation of group committees under the Industrial Efficiency Act has been in progress in the Wellington industrial district since the beginning of September, the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association states.

The association lias not yet been acquainted with any special regulations likely to be introduced by the Bureau of Industry created under the Act, beyond the licensing provisions already imposed in the case of certain industries. Nevertheless, it recognised when the Act wiTS passed that some special form of organisation within the association would be necessary, not only to facilitate the carrying out of any measures that might be imposed, but also to offer criticism of such measures. In this respect, it: was stated yesterday, the association recalls that the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation was instrumental in securing an amendment, of the Act whereby a regulation would not be imposed if a majority of the industries concerned viewed it with disfavour.

The special organisation decided upon at a meeting of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association ou September 1 was that of trade groups. • The ■ resolutions passed were:

(a) That every endeavour shall be made to form trade groups within the framework of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation and the provincial associations.

(b) That Auckland, Canterbury and Dunedin are recommended to give urgent consideration to the need and wisdom of forming trade groups within the federation and provincial associations. a

Fifteen of these groups have already been formed in the Wellington industrial district, and seven more are in process of formation. It is hoped in this way to create an organisation capable of expressing views representative of the whole of the industry, in anticipation, of the announcement by the Bureau of Industry of its proposals for rationalisation. The Wellington Manufacturers’ Association recognises the desirability of all Industries co-operating in the formation of the trade groups. At present a number of industries are organised in separate unions or associations of employers, many of them formed in consequence of the new industrial legislation. Their representation in the trade groups is held to be necessary before these can fully carry out their function.