DUNEDIN MANUFACTURERS

Evening Star, Issue 17636, 15 April 1921, Page 2

DUNEDIN MANUFACTURERS

ANNUAL MEETING OP THE ASSOCIATION. About sixty members of tho Dunedin ’Manufacturers’ Association attended the fourth 'annual meeting, held in tho Savoy Lounge last night. MR AI'DONALD WELCOMED. After the minutes had been read, Air W. B. Hayward (president) expressed tho pleasure that members felt in having with them Air W. G. M'Douakl (chairman of tho Board of Trade) and his secretary (Air J. W. Collins). These gentlemen were attached to the Department of Commerce and Industries. -“lndustries” was a new department, and perhaps it had not yet had*tho time it wished to devoid' to its own special affairs, seeing that numerous other duties had been thrust upon it, especially those entailed by the war; hut no doubt, under the guidance of Mr M‘Donalcl ; the department would more than justify itself. (Applause.) THE REPORT. Air W. E. C. Reid (secretary) read the annual report. In it the president and executive expressed gratification that as a pesult of the activities of tho past year substantial progress had been made by the association not only in respect of its internal strength, but also, it was thought, as regards its status and influence as a factor° in the industrial life of tho Dominion. During tho year tho following matters had received tlie special attention of tho associationlmmigration and the housing of immigrants, improvements in postal ,arrangements and regulations, remedying the acute shortage of railway rolling stock, deficiencies in the coastal shipping services, supplies of sugar for local manufactures. In connection with tiie two immediately preceding headings the executive recorded its thanks to the Union Steam Ship Company, who had dono much to meet the needs of members, and had on more than one occasion arranged for special steamers to meet urgent cases.

Combined Displays by Manufacturers at the Otago Winter Show.—The A. and P. Society acknowledged the way in which manufacturers, at considerable expense and inconvenience, and with commendable soil'll, overcame all difficulties, and made a* display which- was freely admitted to bo one of the main attractions of the show.

Introduction of Night Letter-telegram System.—The association brought a suitable scheme under the notice of the Post-master-General. and in due course, a nolilicniion was received that the suggestion had been acted upon and the system put into operation. .Already the arrangement had proved a very great convenience to the association. Accident Insurance Scheme for Manufacturers. —This matter had- been under consideration for some time past. The details of what it was hoped would prove a sound workable scheme had now been settled, and an early opportunity would be taken of waiting upon individual members to lay tho proposition before them and to enlist their support. Customs Tariff Revision. —The preparations for the forthcoming revision of the Customs tariff had naturally absorbed t'no closest attention of most manufacturers. At tho conclusion of the sittings hero tho chairman of tho Commission wrote': “Tho members of tho Tariff Derision Commission feci that they carmbt leave Dunedin without expressing their deep appreciation of tho able manner in which your association has presented before them tho, cases of tho various manufacturers, of tho courteous consideration you have shown, and of the pains you have taken in giving the Commission a full insight into tho local industries.'’

Proposed New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association.—As an outcome of the Auckland conference, a scheme was propounded for the formation of a New Zealand ‘Manufacturers’ Association, to supplant the existing Industrial Corporation of New Zealand. The scheme was in due course submitted to your executive and to members by the delegates sent to Auckland, and was given full consideration. Tho conclusions arrived at were mainly the following;—(1) That the proposed organisation would in actual practice prove unwieldy, . the machinery provided for tho control of its activities being somewhat indefinite and complicated, and likely to cause delays in the handling of important matters requiring , tho urgent attention of the separate centres. (2) That tho duties and powers of the paid organiser .wore vaguo, and the benefits likely to accrue to the separate districts from his activities were somewhat problematical. (3) That the experience in this case might well prove to be tho same as in other cases where a scheme of centralisation had been attempted—namely, that tho attempt led to disintegration rather than consolidation. (4) That there is strong need for the full development and organisation of the provincial associations, and that until this is done, and done properly, it is premature to proceed with tho formation of a centralised organisation designed to absorb some of the chief activities of the separate bodies, and tending to dissipate their individual strength, self-reliance, and virility. (5) That it should be a fundamental principle in the reorganisation of any of the provincial associations that membership should be confined to those whose interests are solely, or at least mainly, manufacturing interests. (6) That, given four provincial associations, strongly organised 1 on the lines suggested, concerted action, when necessary, could be readily arranged by conferences or otherwise; so that, while fully desirous of co-operating with bona fide" manufacturers’ associations; in other centres, tho Dunedin association considers the time inopportune for the formation of a central body sufeh as that suggested. Tor these reasons members unanimously decided against affiliation with tho proposed body, and at the same time decided to terminate affiliation with the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand as at present constituted.

Genera!. —A general review _ of the past year showed that conditions in all trades had been, and in many respects still are, quite abnormal. In one respect a ray of light shone through the chaos of the Great War and its aftermath—namely, tho fact that as a people wo had been forced by dint of sheer necessity to a. keener appreciation of the advantages of manufacturing within our own shores an ever-increasing proportion of our own requirements. Tho lesson had been learnt slowly, and perhaps at great' cost, and even yet we were only on tho verge of a full realisation of its vital importance. The obvious need of tho Dominion was population, and still more population. Imagine a Now Zealand with, let us say, ten times the present population, and a corresponding development of the wonderful resources at our command. The possibilities conjured up by such a prospect were indeed great. Tho home market then existing would spell prosperity for tho farmer, irrespective of adverse conditions in markets abroad, and would be the surest safeguard against such a state of affairs as that now embarrassing those engaged in the primary industries. Kqually great, also, were the possibilities from the point of view of the public revenues, the manufacturer, the merchant, and, indeed, every branch of the community. Again, tho question of national defence suggested itself. The committee trusted that wo might never have occasion to resist invasion; but adequate population must form the very foundation of real Security against such a possibility. Population would be most readily aird surely attracted and maintained by* the full and vigorous development of our secondary industries—by greatly extending our existing manufactures, "and establishing more and yet mom new industries. Tho balance-sheet was read hr Mr G. W Reid. ‘ ’ i

The President moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. As to the report, it fully covered the year’s activities, and ho did not think it'necessary to say anything. The balance-sheet was of a satisfactory nature. It showed a credit of about £3B on the year’s operations. Mr T. Somerville seconded the motion, and in doing so said that the president was largely to he thanked for the good work of the association. The services that Mr Hayward had rendered not only to this association but to manufacturers throughout the Dominion were such as entitled him to sincere thanks. The way that he prepared the manufacturers’ case

for putting before the Tariff Commission showed his sound sense and his organising ability. Tire President remarked that tho'opportunity was now presented of airing any grievances that misrht exist. Mr IT. H. S. White said that he had no grievance to ventilate, but he had a suggestion to make. It was that a circular should be sent to all bodies affiliated to the association asking them to do what they could in drawing attention to the duty of purchasing New Zealand-made goods in preference to imported goods, provided they could be got at reasonable prices, 1 or, even if a little more had to be paid it would be. good business to pay it for the sake of keeping our money, in the country'.

Tho motion was then put and carried. OFFICERS. "

Tho following were appointed without opposition:—President, Mr W. R. Hayward (re-elected); vice-president, Mr W. Burt; treasurer, Mr R. J. Hudson (reelected) ; auditor, Mr H. F. Sincock (reelected). Tho following twelve members of last year’s committee wore elected: Messrs R. W. Brickell, W. M'Kinlay, H. if; Slcinner, W. Stevenson, R. Cuddie, J, M. Stevenson. T. Somerville, J. H. Slewart, J. S. Fletcher. H. F. Siilcock, C. Speight, and A. E. Usherwood. The committee was given power to appoint throe additional members, bringing up the number to fifteen, so as to represent any important industry that was linking Up for the first time. In returning thanks for his re-election, Mr Hayward said ho accepted nomination at the request of his colleagues on the executive. The association had been in existence only four years, but during,that time it had'thoroughly justified its_ existence. In connection with the negotiations with the Union Steam Ship Company it had proved the value of organisation, for no individual manufacturer could have secured such relief as they had obtained as a body. During the coiping year it was intended to increase the membership very materially on the lines of the Melbourne Chamber of Manufacturers. 1 hatbody embraced all trade and each trade section formed a sub-committee. The .secretary of the chamber acted as the, executive officer of each trade subcommittee, and thus each trade section was in close, touch with every other section. When the provincial associations wore firmlv organised it might bo desirable to combine the whole in one Dominion organisation. but until the. provinces were strong in their owp manufacturers’ associations "the Dominion organisation would reflect the defects of its members in a magnified form. In comhidimr. the President paid n. tribute to the which the secretary (Mr K C- Reid) and his managing clerk (Mr G. M. Reid) had discharged their duties. social: The formal . business being thus concluded, the meeting resolved into a social, at which the 'feature was the speeches made in proposing and replying to the toast of “The Department of Industries and C'ornmeiTC.’’ A special vote of thanks was accorded to the Press, on the motion ot Mr T. Somerville, and the President thanked Messrs J. 'Leech, F. C. Cooper, and C. Pizoy for the musical items given at intervals.