DREDGE-MAKERS AND USERS.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 52, 30 August 1900, Page 6

DREDGE-MAKERS AND USERS.

_ — $_ OUTCRY FROM THE DREDGING INDUSTRY. [I»Y TLXEGItAnt— OWX COnitESrONDENT.] DUNEDIN, This Day. Representations having been made" by the irnn-workeis in their interview with tho Premier on Monday as to their iiliility to complete the eontiacts for dredges ordered, the iStnr deputed a member of its f-tafY to interview thoso in the best position to speak as to the facts-. The lesult has been a complete consensus of opinion antagonistic to the views expressed by the deputation. Those seen include prominent consulting engineers, the Chairmen ot the Stock Exchanges, and the secretaries to mining companies. One and all stated that in no instance had a, dredge contract been

finished within two months of the contiact date, and that as a consequence woiry and vexation were caused to all concerned. The .simple truth was that the foundries and engineering shops had undertaken more work than they were able to do. It was further alleged that tho imposition of the duty on dredging machinery was in the direction of throttling that important industry Mr. W. F. Sligo baid that to his knowledge £6545 was the price put in by a local firm for a dredge, which an American foundry undertook to construct for £4600. Two millions sterling had been called up in companies Avhose dredges were nofc yet running, and the loss of interest on that money, together Auth the amount of labour that Avould be necessary, demanded that all assistance bhould be given to the industry. Mr. Roberts, consulting engineer, Avho has designed a very large number of dredges, said :— " The demand for men has outgrown the supply. There are not enough mechanics trained in the colony to do all the work Aye hoav want of them. You cannot produce competent operatives of that class by passing an Act or carrying a resokmoh." Mr. Payne, another consulting engineer, puts the case in a nutshell. "Firms tender with their eyes open, Avhen it is impossible that they cap finish their contracts within the specified time, and Avhen they don't come up to time, the shareholders naturally groAvl because, as they point out, if the specifications allowed six months more time, then the contracts would be taken up at lower rates, and shareholders are called on to pay up to get dredges quickly, instead of Avhich, owing to the delays, the dredge is delivered Avhen the season is lost, when the river is high, and men have to be paid to look after her, so' that, instead of being a money-making machine, sho is an expense." Mr. Herdman, manager of the parent Stock Exchange, unequivocally asserts that the retention of the old tariff will be to retard the gold-dredging industry. The engineering firms have clearly shown their inability to cope with the demand for dredging machinery, notwithstanding that they have been said to be working night and day in their efforts to complete contracts. The result has been that through a very large number of dredges not being finished to time, tho present winter season has been lost to the companies, which practically means a year's loss. The cost of freight, insurance, and other charges should, in his opinion, be sufficient protection to the local dredge-builders, and tho imposition of a 5 per cent, duty is not likely to stop the sending of orders outside the colony. Seeing .that so many of the companies have been calling up their capital, for the companies to aAvait the construction of dredges locally would mean a great loss, and it pays them better to send eteoAvliere for ' their work, CA'en in tho face •of the 5 per cent, duty. Ihe Chairman of the Equitable Stock Exchange says that on v low* computation it Avould be quite sale to say that between 400 and 450 neAr dredging companies have been floated in the colony within the past tAvo years. It is an absolute impossibility for the New Zealand foundries and ironworks to cope Avith the extraoi dinar}' demand that has thus been created for dredging machinery. There is enough work to keep them going upon dredging machinery alone for perhaps the next ten years. The foundries and ironworks are not Avarranted in agitating against the admission of ;dredging material free. To him it seems to be a dog-in-the-manger policy. He suggests letting all dredging machinery oome into the colony free fov tAvo or three years, and tlien, if need be, and if the interests of local ironworks required it, a Customs impost upon such material could bo reimposed.