INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 69, 21 March 1918, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON

TARIFF AND OTHER SUBJECTS.

The annual meeting of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand was continued yesterday afternoon,' Mr. F. J. Evans (president) being in the chair. CHANGE OF NAME. The Chairman moved that the name of the various associations be changed to " Chambers of Industry," and that the corporation's name be changed to " Associated Chambers of Industry." The motion was seconded by Mr. F. W. Vickerman, who suggested that it might be necessary to put a short measure through Parliament to enable the change of name to be effected.

Mr, T. Ballinger believed in keeping to the old name. What they needed was move members.

• After discussion,"the motion was carried in the form of a recommendation to the existing bodies.

Mr. Dearsley moved that steps be taken to induce industrial unions of employers to affiliate with the local industrial associations.

In the course of further discussion, Mr. Black expressed the opinion that there was a wider platform on which employers and employees could meet and express their ideas on behalf of a common purpose. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Dearsley moved that the corporation take steps to create the position of organising secretary for the Dominion. It would, he said, be necessary to pay a ■man a 'good salary for such a position, but he had no doubt the scheme could be financed.

Eventually the question was referred to committees in Canterbury and. Auckland, to report to the Executive.

WEIGHT OF PARCELS. , Mr. Badger moved the Canterbury res mit :—"That the Government be approached to increase the weight allowed to be handled by the parcels post to at least 141b, or that goods under the small goods class may be received at any railway •station in either island, >>r

The remit was agreed to. SHOP DISPLAYS.

Mr. Vickerman moved :~"Thßt thin meeting affirms the desirability of each 'association organising once during the year a display in its own town or New Zealand-mage- goods, either by. exhibition or by display; in shop windows." The idea of those in Wellington, lie said, was to display goods made in New Zealand by New Zealand labour with New Zealand or wholly British capital. It was suggested that the funds should be provided by New Zealand manafaetiirers doing business in Wellington. The cost was estimated iat £100.

Mr. Harbut questioned whether many manufacturers' were in a position to assist shopkeepers • in such a matter. The time was not opportune tor such a proposal. Mr. Vickerman said that shop disp'ayß. in New Zealand had been a failure because they had allowed individual manufacturers to make individual displays. Given reasonable inducement, ha was quite certain that the men behind the counter would make the thing a success.

The motion was agreed to.

HANDLING MATERIALS. Mr. C. J. Ward brought up the question of injuries to industries through the incompetent handling by Government officials of raw materials. Careless handling had, he Vsaid, interfered considerably with some New Zealand industries, and in this connection be said that while a large quantity of calfskins were being imported to Australia., a Canterbury tannery was almost on the point of closinp down owing to shortage of supplies. He was quite certain there was something wrong with the department governing those matters. The evil of official control was that it was responsible to no one but the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister could not be found. >"

Mr. Dearsley said he heard of a case at Auckland where a manufacturer could not get the use of the pelts lying on his own premises because the Government official was not there to pass them. It was decided that a deputation wait on the Prime Minister on the subject. TARIFF REFORM.

"Organisation for Scientific Tariff R«form" was the title of a remit from Auckland brought forward by Mr. Harbut". The tariff, he said, was full of anomalies; it was partially revenue-producing and partly protective of local indu»try ( but no amendment could' be made unless tho whole of the tariff was brought under the review of Parliament. He urged that they should aim at some simpler method of bringing about tariff reform. In Australia there was a Tariff Board, to which alleged anomalies were referred for enquiry. If it considered a change should bo made it recommended the Government to take action, and the Government did so, leaving it to Pai'liament to subsequently ratify the change. Many new industries would be started in New Zealand, if only they could get the required protection "for a time He moved : "That it is most important- that steps should be taken to prepare for tariff alterations' that will inevitably take place after the war, and that the Government be urged to alter the present system and set up a. Tariff Board, which will, after thorough investigation, report to the Government, which should be able to bring such recommendations into operation by regulation.

The motion was eeconded by Mr. Black nnd carried.

Mr. Harbut then moved that the various associations be requested to at once start preparing reports, to be submitted to the next meeting of the corporation. This was seconded by Mr. Dearsley, who suggested that it would be a good opportunity for the affiliated trades to take a hand.

The motion was carried.

EXCHANGING MINUTES.

It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Harbtit. that the various associations send to each association 'copies 'of the minutes of .its meetings, and of papers read there.

The conference then adjourned until to-day.