INDUSTRIALISTS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 69, 21 March 1918, Page 2

INDUSTRIALISTS CONFER

—,—♦ „ .. MEETING OF THE CORPORATION. The annual, meeting of the Industrial Incorporation of New Zealand was continued this morning, Mr. F. J. Evans (president) being in the chair. The Mayor (Mr. J, P. Luke), in welcoming the delegates, said he did not . think that any of them were unfriendly to Labour, but that everyone should have a fair remuneration for his services. On the other hand, employers bad their responsibilities, and if there was going to be an organised Labour movement to uplift themselves and bring about better conditions, there must be an organised industrial activity on the part of the employers of the Dominion. Then they could get together and solve many of the difficulties which were not solvable by keeping apart. REAFFORESTATION. Mr. S. J. Harbutt (Auckland) read a lengthy paper on the subject of Reafforestation. He gave figures showing that in a very few years the wliole of 'our timber supplies will be exhausted, and, in conclusion, njoyed :—"Realising the grave situation disclosed by the Government's report, C 2, on State forestry with regard to the early exhaustion of our native; timbers, also the statement of wovk undertaken in the way of afforestation, 1 his conference deplores the inaction of the Government, and.urges that more active . stepsj be taken to conserve what still remains by placing restriction on export and preventing the destruction of timber areas for purposes of clearing and grassing. Further, instead of curtailing the treeplanting, as is stated in the report, the Conference urges.the Government to follow the lead of all progressive countries by. pursuing an active scheme of. afforestation, thus providing for the future needs of our Dominion and immediately providing healthy outdoor occupation for our returning soldiers." The motion was carried after a brief debate. ' FUEL ALCOHOL. Mr. Harbutt also moved an Auckland remit, "urging the Government to give a subsidy on the production of fuel alcohol in suitable quantity. He read evidence thai; after the war there will be a serious shortage' of benzine, and. that fuel alcohol would be an exceedingly valuable substitute as a motor spirit. He suggested that the subsidy should be offered for the first million gallons sup. plied. He , had__.already. spoken on the subject to a. Cabinet" Minister, who had told him to'push it along as fast as he could.. He moved, "That this corporation places oh record its conviction that, immediate action is necessary to provide fuel for internal combustion engines in the Dominion. That strong and urgent recommendations be made to the Government to take necessary to remove tho present Sembargo on the distillation of, fuel alcohol. That a subsidy be provided to assist the starting of this. nftw industry, and that the government pass the necessary legislation to protect such industry." Speaking briefly; to 'the motion, Mr. W. Ferguson (Chairman of the National Efficiency Board) said that New Zealand was practically the only British community which had not got some committee or body dealing with scientific research. .For two years there had been such a body iii Australia, and in a recent bulletin it hod issued there was a valuable paper on the subject. That committee recommended a subsidy of 3d a gallon and a bonus of 3"d a gallon for the production of power alcohol. The motion was agreed to. The conference then adjourned till 7,30 p.m. in order to allow the members to pay a visit to Trentham Camp.