MANUFACTURERS

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 16

MANUFACTURERS

ANNUAL. MEETING OF DUNEDIN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Tlio annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association was held in tlio Somerset Lounge, Savoy Rcstauraut, last evening, Mr James Hogg (president) presiding over a largo attendance. In moving the adoption of the annual report arJ oalance-sheet, the President (Mr J. Hogg) said the outstanding •efforts of the year’s work had focussed a ,nd the questions of the New Zealand Manufacture!.-’ Federation, the Customs tariff, and the display ol New Zealand industries during Show Week The balance-sheet showed their finances to bo stronger than ever, and the accumulated fund now stood at i 11,579. The increasing income enabled the association to promote and carry out special efforts like the industries work displays without calling upon members for donations. Their funds wore still a long way below those of the northern associations, and ho hoped a further effort would be made to augment them, possibly through the medium of a local industrial exhibition which might he held about 1929 on a fairly comprehensive .scale.

Tho prospect of closer trade wilh tho Islands had been kept steadily in view by the executive, and the association took the initiative of convening a meeting to ascertain ways and means of developing the South Island trade with Samoa, Cook Islands, and Fiji. Their efforts in combination with the Chamber of Commerce, Expansion League, and Fruitbrokers’ Association led to a meeting with the •'Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and to tlio expectation that the new Covcrnment boat would make Dunedin a port of call. While Auckland. Wellington, and .Lyttelton are included in tins itinerary, Dunedin was completely "lit out from the opportunity of direct j trade. The various bodies interested and tho members ol Parliament from j flic southern districts would see to it that a further strong and cmphali.; protest would be made on tin; mallei'. ’IT y were also vitally interested in the question of South island shipping in general, .but this matter was being ably handled by the Chamber of Commerce, and was fully reported on at their animal meeting, so there is no 1 need for mo to say anything further on this question. A big effort was in ado for a successful display of Ncw_Zca- ■ land-made goods during tyro weens mi June. In connection wilh tins lie wished to specially thank the retailers of Dunedin for their very hearty cooperation and for personal assistance rendered by several workers. Considerable propaganda lias been undertaken during the year, including the striking series'of full-page advertisements in tile daily Press, illustrating the power and scope of combined co-operative advertising. The visit ol the Duke of Dork to some of our Dunedin factories was an event of considerable interest, as also was tho extensive tour of Dunedin factories by the Minister of Industries and Commerce. The formation ol the New Zealand Federation of Manufacturers was an event of extreme importance to tile induf.triali.sts of the dominion, am! tlieir association undertook a considerable share of the. formation work. In I unanimously selecting lor the offices ol New Zealand president and vice-presi-dent two gentlemen like Mr J. Sutherland Loss and -Mr Pilchard Hudson tho federation were lionring men whoso names were household words in industry, and indirectly honoring Dunedin. He paid a tribute to the secretary, Mr Cl. W. Reid, who. lie said, had been a tower of strength to the asnoeiation during what has been an active and difficult period. He also paid tributes jto the Department of Industries and I Commerce, and particularly to Mr J. 1)1’. Collins (secretary of the departMr Clinknrd, and Mr F. Johnson,

in conclusion, he said, il they wanted to maintain or improve tlieny position, capital, and labor in the British Empire, they must stand more united and dependent on each other. Britain has for years been the industrial icadciy of tlio civilised world, ami it was fitting that tile traditions of her industry should die carried on in the remotest parts of the Empire, and they as de«ee admits of that Britain need tender no apology tor seeking to maintain Close industrial traditions in tins fair dominion.

MB SOMERVILLE’S REMARKS. .Mr T. Somerville (vice-president), in .seconding the adoption of Hie report, concratiihiled tho chairman on ids address. Dealing with Hie Customs tarifi, Mr Somerville .said Hie Commonwealth had a prohibitive tariff. They did not wish to go ns lar as that. All flier wanted was a lari IF that would assist in tho development of their industries. He stated that manufacturers would lie quite prepared to agree that, in the event of a protective tariff being given to an industry to allow the increase to he reduced, if that industry could nor, sell its goods cheaper—say in three or four years. Ho also paid a tribute to tlio work of the secretary (Mr G. IV. Reid).

The report was adopted OFFICE-BEARERS

Tim election of officers resulted as follows:— President. Mr T. Somerville; vice-president. Mr J. Sutherland liow; eommitec— -Messrs .1. Hogg, C. Baker, W. C. Burt, R. Cuddle, J. S. Faulkner, W. R. Jlaywaro, J. C. Jcflery, E. H.. Lough, IV. M’Kinlay, B. If. Nees, J. Y. Love, H. E. Skinner, A. Smeilie. C, Speight, •). Stark. A. IT. Templeton. T. Tomkins. A. E. Lshenvood, J. E. Wheeler, C. Wilson. N. Oram; ireaMircr, Dir Richard Hudson; auditor, Mr J. H. Stewart.