MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21129, 15 June 1932, Page 2

MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The monthly meeting of the executive of the Manufacturers’ Association was held at the University Club last night, the president (Mr J. G. Jeffery) being in the chair. The Chairman extended a welcome to Mr E. G. Lane, of Oaxnarn. FIJIAN SHOW. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. 11. Masters) wrote stating that ho had received a communication from the Fiji Show Association advising him of the holding of an agricultural, pastoral, and industrial show on October 11 and 12 next. The matter was brought under the association’s notice in order that members of the Manufacturers’ Association might, if possible, take advantage of the offer of the Show Association to bring their goods under the notice of prospective buyers. The Secretary (Mr G. W. Heid) suggested that the Department of Industries and Commerce might take in hand the arranging of a mass exhibit. Several manufacturers would probably be prepared to assist with exhibits. Mr J. Hogg said that with Fiji there was also the prospect of reciprocal trade. He thought they should take advantage of the preferential tariff. He strongly supported the suggestion that the department should undertake an exhibit on behalf of the manufacturers. The President said seeing that they had obtained such a favourable agree meat with Fiji they should make the most use of it. It was decided to reply to the Minister, asking for the department to take up the matter of arranging an exhibit through the local officers. POSTAL KATES. The President reported that a telegram had been despatched to the Post-master-General expressing the association’s delight at Ids pronouncement advising the return to universal penny postage.' The hope was expressed that the reversion to halfpenny postage on unsealed addressed letters would be included. The Postmaster-General (Hon. A. Hamilton) had replied returning thanks for the congratulatory message, which lie appreciated. The association would be pleased to know that the amended regulations provided for postal rates on inland packets containing commercial and printed papers b.eing reduced to id for each two ounces or fraction thereof up to 21b. TRADE WITH THE EAST. The Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce wrote enclosing a copy of a circular which he had sent to various firms in New Zealand interested in the question of trading with the East. It stated that the department had been in communication with the New Zealand agent of Osaka Shosen Kaisba with a view to inducing that company to extend its shipping services so as to afford New Zealand exporters" direct shipment to China. Following upon these representations, he had now been advised that Osaka Shosen- Kaisha was willing to consider a call at Hongkong and (or) Shanghai by a steamer leaving here early next month, providing sufficient cargo was offering. The owners were prepared to consider the question of direct calls providing the cargo was forthcoming. That should encourage firms interested to make determined efforts in that direction, and ho trusted that consideration would be given to the possibilities of firms extending their trade with Hongkong and China. The “contents of the circular were noted, and it was decided to leave it to the various export firms to take the matter up. MISS ESTHER JAMES’S VISIT. The President reported on the visit to Dunedin of Miss Esther James, and stated that in her various addresses on the advisability of buying New Zealandmade goods she had been quite convincing. A message was conveyed to the association from Miss James expressing her thanks for the association’s assistance during her visit to Dunedin. MR G. W. REID FAREWELLED. Mr G. W. Reid, who is to represent the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation in the dominion’s delegation to the Ottawa Conference, was farewelled by members. In a letter expressing his deep regret at being unable to be present, Mr J. Sutherland Ross wrote that in Air Reid they had the best representative of the manufacturers’ interests whom it was possible to appoint, as he knew that Mr Reid would fight every step of the way to oppose anything detrimental to Now Zealand. All parties wore using the same arguments with regard to the conference—that it must be a “ give and take ” affair—but, unfortunately, every interest seemed to consider that it was the duty of one of the others to do the giving, and ho was sure that Mr Reid would be able to offer something on behalf of the manufacturers which would show their goodwill to the other interests concerned without harming their own employees and capital. The President said that he felt sure they were one and all in agreement with the sentiments expressed by Mr Sutherland Ross in his letter. It must bo fully conceded that they depended on the farmer to provide, through the sale ot produce from the land, the necessary credits to pay their all too heavy interest commitments, and to provide also those necessary credits to finance their imports. The policy of the development of the dominion had been in the past undoubtedly a too lop-sided one, and one not making for selfreliance. Overseas markets had to be exploited to the full, but due recognition of the value of their own local market and the country’s responsibilities particularly to their young people, all of whom could not possibly go on the land, must not he forgotten. As Air Sutherland Ross had remarked, they could hardly have hoped to have had as their representative one so _ ably fitted as Air Reid to guard their interests and to help in the guiding of their country’s deliberations at so important a conference. Air Jeffery added that if delegates representing other interests wore of the same calibre and were actuated, as Air licid would he, to counsel that which would bo best for the dominion and the Empire, the parliamentary delegation .should on their return bo able to give a satisfactory account of their stewardship.

Mr lleid returned thanks for the sentiments that had been approved, and then addressed members on the problems that would confront the delegates to the Ottawa Conference as they appeared to him after attending the conferences of all the delegates with the Cabinet Ottawa Committee in Wellington.