"MOMENTOUS YEAR"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 17

"MOMENTOUS YEAR"

INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK

LOCAL 1 MANUFACTURERS

'"I feel that the present year is one of the most momentous in the history of the association," staled the president (Mr. I. Matheson) at the haltyearly meeting 'of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association. last night. After dealing with the Government's 40-hour week proposal (his comments on the subject being reported under a separate heading), Mr. Matheson said there was another big problem ahead of manufacturers, namely, the co-ord-ination or rationalisation of industry. The Government had already intimated its intention of introducing an Industrial Efficiency Bill. The details of the Bill had not yet been completed, but enough was known of the Government's intentions to realise that a considerable strengthening and de- t velopment of the association was necessary if they-were to co-operate with the Government effectively in its endeavour to place-New Zealand's manufacturing industries on a sounder economic basis. Two steps had been taken by . executive towards that end. The first was to organise withm the association trade groups to deal with the specific'problems of each particular trade, and to function on behalf of that trade when the Industrial Efficiency Bill became law. The second step was to' embark on a definite policy of enlarging the membership, with the real objective of the association being in a position to say to the Government that it represented not 80 but 100 per cent.,of the manufacturers in its territory.. With this end in view, the secretary' lias'already made three organising tours, ■ . one to the Manawatu, one to Hawke's Bay, and one to Wanganui. • These- - tours, combined with a steady drive for new members in Wellington, itself: had'resulted in 70 new firms applying for membership. This work was to be continued, and it was the intention in the near future to have active branches of the association functioning in Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Blenheim, and Nelson. . . INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. Another matter .receiving the attention of the executive was the provision of a full-time service to manufacturers in industrial disputes. The policy of the association in undertaking this work for its members had already been approved,'but the means whereby the objective was to be attained had not yet been decided. The1 most notable achievement of the executive in the past Half-year was undoubtedly the substantial reduction in electricity charges for current used-in factories. This had. been agreed to by the City Council as a direct result of representation and figures ■ submitted by the association. ,\ In ■addition to the work of the association, .the Federation office and the Federation .council had not been idle. Matters receiving their attention during; the ; past few months included nuriierous'"- cases of tariff: anomaly adversfelyi" affecting members and the question ~;pl* the repeated growth of competition "from goods manufactured in the,* East and landed in New Zealand far below the cost of production in this country. The failure of the past Government to charge the appropriate department with exchange on Departmental purchases (the exchange having been borne by the.ponsolidated Fund) was another.', ■mattfer. to which attention had been;giye;n/ -flThis practice^ ,th.c ..Prime ,Mii^isJer tltadjp. romised,. had vtq:^cea^e:'4'jiwi^oSat;^|y;y.vih respect "^lE^over^njep^tJf^iples, with the" exception'.of';tfi%ei<sf«Me Defence and: Prisons, Departments; ' J^ •"'■■ Thirty-tliree L'-n'fms were elected:'.as members' and several speakers paid tribute to the work done in this cpnY nection by the secretary, Mr. A. W:. Nisbet.. . :. . . ■ ' ■ .