MANUFACTURERS’ INTERESTS

Evening Star, Issue 21284, 13 December 1932, Page 1

MANUFACTURERS’ INTERESTS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Alanufacturers’ Association was held last evening, Air James Hogg presiding over a good attendance of members. CENTRAL BANK. A letter was read from the Executive of the Federation in reply to an inquiry from the local association regarding the proposal to establish a central bank. The letter stated that the secretary of the federation had interviewed the Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, and that he had been informed that the bank would not affect manufacturers. Tho executive further reported that it did not intend to bring down a report on the matter, but that the personal opinions of members was that manufacturers had nothing to fear, judging from the operations of central banks in other parts of the world—e.g.. the Bank of England and the Federal Bank of America. Mr Hogg remarked that the Assistant Secretary had given his assurance. It. was decided that the reply be noted. QUESTION OF EXCHANGE. When the question of exchange came up for discussion the Chairman said that on about November 18, when the matter was coming to a liead ; two or' three members had asked him what action the association was prepared to take to protect its interests. He had expressed the association’s opposition to pegging the exchange at a high rate. As they were aware, the chief reasons for the association’s attitude were that the high exchange would have only a temporary effect in its application to those whom it was to benefit, that it would mean a higher cost of living, that it would accentuate trade barriers, that it would bring about a reduction in the country’s Customs revenue, and that it was against the spirit of the Ottawa Conference. He had stressed these reasons in a letter to the federation. Air J. L. M'lndoe remarked that as a result of the high exchange in Australia uneconomic industries were springing up. The day of reckoning would come, however. DEVELOPAIENT OP TRADE. Tho Secretary of the Federation wrote enclosing the reply of the Hon. R. Masters (Alinister of Industries and Commerse) dealing with the recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission that the finances of the Department of Industries and Com-merce-should be reduced. The Ministerstated that he was strongly of the opinion that in times of severe depression such as the present, no action should be taken which could have the effect of restricting or hampering the development of trade. On the contrary, it would appear to him that such a time was one which called for greater activity. He felt sure the Prime Alinister agreed with him tlgat the vote of the Department of Industries ’ and Commerce should not he reduced, so that the extension of their trade and the development of their markets might receive every consideration, Mr Hogg said some members would recall the strong effort they had made to develop trade with the East, when they had collected £2OO to send a man out to survey the prospects. Arrangements had been made for a line of steamers to make the trip, and at least one i-essel—the Sussex or the , Essexhad gone. However; the Java tariff had been altered against them, and it had been impossible to find in Java or Singapore an outlet for 1 New Zealand manufactures. They found they could not compete with Australia, and they had come to the conclusion that Eastern trade was pretty well closed to them. He thought it would be better to try and develop trade with the Islands. He agreed that they should approve of the expenditure of money which might assist their primary and manufacturing industries. . INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. . It was intimated by the Chairman that it had been definitely decided to hold an industrial exhibition towards the end of April of next year. MILITARY CAiMPS. Alajor O. H. Alead wrote giving particulars of the dates of the annual training camps of units located in Dun-. edin, and asking for a continuance of the co-operation and assistance of the association’s members. • Air Hogg stated that the association had always taken up the attitude that it should co-operate loyally with the department. He thought it was their duty to let their employees off in order to attend the camps. WELCOAIE TO HON. DOWNIE STEWART. The Chairman intimated that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart would he pleased to attend a reception given in his honour on his return to Dunedin. The Secretary (Air G. W. Reid) said that he was making arrangements for the function. Tho function will be held within the next ten days. FIJI DUTIES. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to send a letter of congratulation to the Government on the fact thal it had obtained an amendment in tho Fiji tariff whereby the rates of duty were brought back to the‘original rates paid by New Zealand instead of being raised to the higher rates paid by Australia. INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS. The Chairman said that the report of the Department of Industries and Commerce, issued on September 20, gave the latest statistics for New Zealand industry. The figures showed very little fall in the number of employees engaged, the wages paid, and the value of production, illustrating the great advantage to the dominion of a maintenance of the secondary industries during the present difficult period. The report showed for the secondary and semi-sec-ondary industries:— Number of employees, 80,829 (including 64,000 males). Wages paid, £16,397,600. Value of production, £80,745,426. The number of employees engaged last year showed a fall of 4,968, or 5.79

per cent, on the 1930 figures. It was imperative that every effort should be made to stimulate their industries to enable these employees to be again placed in employment, and that nothing should be done by the Government in the contemplated overhaul, of the tariff to embarrass further their industries.