MANUFACTURERS MEET

Evening Star, Issue 21580, 28 November 1933, Page 5

MANUFACTURERS MEET

DUNEDIN ASSOCIATION BIG GATHERING OF BUSINESS INTERESTS The animal meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturer's’ Association, held last night in the Somerset Lounge of the Savoy, attracted a very large attendance, which included representatives of many local bodies and other citizens who are prominent in the public eye. Mr Janies Hogg (president) extended a special welcome to the following:— The Hon. JL Masters (minister of Industries and Commerce and of Education), the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Mr James; Hutchison (editor of the ‘ Otago Daily ’limes ’), Mr W. F. Alexander (editor of the ‘ Evening Star ’), Major .Mead. Mr M. C. Henderson (city electrical engineer), Messrs W. H. Brent and H. P. West (Chamber of Commerce). Mr J. Renton (Otago Harbour Board), Messrs Paton and A. S. Cookson (Otago Employers’ Association), Mr M. A. Kinney (Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union). Mr Wood (Otago Importers' and Shippers’ Association), Mr G. Frrington (Otago Expansion League), Messrs A. J. Gordon and O. L. Fere ms (Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association), Mr Arm it (Otago Master Grocers’ Association), Mr Maurice Myers (Dunedin Centre of the New Zealand Legion), and Mr Magnus Johnson (Rotary Club). PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. Mr Hogg, in moving the adoption of tho annual report, said the meeting marked the close of a year of considerable activity and anxiety to manufacturers on account of the heavy work involved in connection with the preparation and presentation of the tariff cases. The membership of the association stood at 146, and the finances were in a sound position. The reorganisation of the federation and .the appointment of a secretary in Mr Mander, with headquarters in Wellington, had proved of considerable benefit to manufacturers and would lead to greater unity of action in all matters effecting the welfare of members and of industry in the dominion. A most successful dominion conference had just been concluded in Wellington, and during the conference all tho delegates present waited on the Government and offered the full support and co-operation of the Manufacturers’- Federation in any way to assist the Government in its difficult task of dealing with the unemployment problem.

Jlr Hogg referred to the successful industrial exhibition held at the Drill Hall,- and said it had proved of great value:—(l) In illustrating the value and quality and wide variety of the goods being made in New Zealand; (2) in educating the public to the importance of our own industries; (3) in providing an object lesson to the thousands of school children who examined the exhibits; and (4) in bringing about a close co-operation between employer and employee in a great industrial effort. Ho"paid a tribute to the generous support given by tho City Council and by the various bands of the city. Several of the Otago and Southland members of Parliament visited the exhibition, and, after a close inspection of the goods displayed, expressed themselves as greatly impressed with the quality and variety of the goods and of the necessity for moderate but adequate protection for New Zealand industries against imported goods. Alter referring to exchange, sales lax, and Umpire trade (reported in another column) Mr Hogg stated that Dio banking figures at September 30 disclosed an increase in fixed awl tree deposits of approximately six and a-half millions over 1932. Uncertainty regarding the future tariff policy must be retarding the flow of capital into.new industries and the extension of present industries to the detriment of the country. In 1931 the leaders of the three parties in the House made a powerful appeal to the people of the dominion, to every producer, retailer, and consumer to purchase New Zealand-made goods and thus revitalise industry. .With 70,000 men out of work, that appeal from the parliamentary leaders became a duty to the public. If they imported an article that could be made in Now Zealand they created unemployment, and also paid the price of tho imported article plus the indirect charge of the unemployment benefit paid to tho worker displaced in New Zealand. Could they affoid to risk the experiment at a time when they were facing a restricted market abroad? “ A slow but steady improvement is manifest throughout the world,” continued Mr Hogg. “There have been encouraging rises in prices of various commodities, and more particularly in wool, which should react beneficially on our financial position for 1934. Almost all shares of stock, financial, and industrial comuanics have firmed in prices, revealing an optimism and confidence in the future. Many of our factories are now working full time, and tho industrial outlook both in Great Britain and in this dominion is brighter and will continue to expand provided there is little political interference applied. Internal prices of our manufactured goods have not advanced owing to tho keen internal competition in most lines, but price levels in New Zealand will eventually rise normally with a return to higher price levels for commodities throughout the world. Wo can look back over twelve months and point to a definite rise from the depth of the economic depression, and say that there has been a steady improvement. This. I. believe, will be more beneficial than the attempt of the United States Administration to create artificial price and wage levels under their National Recovery Rian. Our road to recovery will be slow and through increased confidence and an upward trend in prices. When wo can provide work to place more of our unemployed army back in industry we will; (1) Relieve taxation, (2) create confidence, and (3) increase spending power, and that returning confidence will lead to a flow of capital into industry and production. May I say that wc are not only at the end of a difficult year for ourselves and for other sections of the community, but wo now face what may bo the most momentous year in' the history of New Zealand industry or what mnv prove a further advance in New Zealand industrial progress and prosperity. In conclusion. I desire to express my thanks to the secretary, Mr G. W. Reid, for his usual efficient and ca pable h andling of the association’s work, to the executive and members of the association for very loyal and wholehearted support given to myself and, more particularly, to their association during the past year.”

SOLIDARITY OF ORGANISATION. Mr J. H. Stewart, who seconded the motion, said that in reference to the exhibition hold at the Drill Hall it was very satisfactory that the association had t)..! loyal support of every manufacturer iii the district. It had been a strenuous year in regard to the work of preparing for the Tariff Commission, and there had been revealed the solidarity of the association with headquarters at Wellington* It had. shpwp. that thoji

must stand together. In regard to statements made with regard to a conflict of farmers’ interests with manufacturers’ interests he would point out that many prominent men in the dominion who first and foremost had been agriculturists had established industries throughout the country, showing that they recognised the necessity tor developing industries. The motion was carried. OTHER SPEAKERS. Mr W. Downio Stewart said it was very gratifying to hear the note ol confidence struck by the president, by the conference of manufacturers in Wellington, and by the Minister. He thougnt it was warranted from many points of view. He had hold that it was dangerous for any country to have all its eggs in ono basket, either in the exporting industry or entirely in th- opposite direction. ’ In the past the Government had assisted the manufacturers to some extent —not to the extent that was asked—notwithstanding that there was a school of thought that had opposed the growth of secondary industries. As Minister of Customs ho had found difficulties on both sides, but it seemed to 1 i the Government policy had been the correct one. The speaker referred to the danger with which New Zealand. Canada, and _ Australia were faced with the populations of Europe and America becoming stationary, and as a consequence not being able to absorb their produce, and went on to refer to the conflicting interests in Canada —industrial and agricultural. It seemed almost impossible to reconcile them, said Mr Stewart. There were far greater differences there than they had in New Zealand. Mr Stewart concluded by referring to some of Canada’s problems and the methods she was taking to combat them. He wished to confirm all that had been said about the general attitude of the British manulactnrer at Ottawa.

The Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) congratulated Dir Masters on his address (the report of which appears elsewhere in this issue), and expressed pleasure that he had been able to strike a note of confidence. He also congratulated the Manufacturers’ Association on the work it had accomplished during the year, and said the fact that so many companies in Dunedin had been able to go through difficult years with favourable balance-sheets showed that they had been built up on sound lines. The President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr W. H. Brent) also expressed appreciation of the work that had been done, and referred to the value of secondary industries. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mr James Hogg (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs J. Sutherland Ross and J. H. Stewart; treasurer, Mr R. Hudson (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr P. Duncan. The following committee members retired by rotation, and are not eligible for rc-elcction for twelve • months: — Messrs G. G. Adess, W. Lambert, J. L. M'Tndoe. N. Oram, and W. H. Shepherd. Those vacancies and that caused through the election of Mr J. Sutherland Ross as a \ ice-president were filled by Messrs F. IV. Cleavin. James Evans, A. Smcllie. T. Somerville. .1. Stark, and C. A. Wilson. The following remain in office without election for the ensuing year:—Messrs James Hogg, R. Duncan. -I. H. Stewart, H. L. Dolamore, R. Ellis. W. Garrett, H. F. Harris. J. G. Jeffery, W. G. Kindle,v, H. L. Longbottom. A. Pratt, J. Sutherland Ross. J. B. Shacklock, C. V. Smith, and W. Stevenson.