N.Z. INDUSTRIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10489, 14 October 1926, Page 6

N.Z. INDUSTRIES

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF DOMINION CORPORATION.

, PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

TOO MUCH MONEY VOTED BY GOVERNMENT FOR FARMERS,

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 13. > The annual conference of the Industrial Corporation of Noav Zealand was opened this morning by the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer.) Among ■the visitors were the Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. W. DoAvnie Stewart), Mr D. G-. Sullivan, M.P., nnd Messrs <3. W. Ciinknrd (secretary), and D. Colquhoun (local officer) of the Department of Industries and commerce. The President of _ the Corporation (Mr E. • 11. Marriner) -presided. in declaring the conference open, the Mayor gave a dissertation on the value of free trade as against proto"-. tion, a question which the conference would doubtless be discussing. In closing his address of welcome Mr Archer spoke upon the commercial views' of Mr Henry Ford. The Avelcome to the delegates was seconded by Mr D. G. SulliA’an, M.P , and Avas .responded to by Messrs J. Hogg (Dunedin), H. Dearsley (Auckland) and F. Campbell (Wellington). The i ’resident, in his address, urged the. necessity for a strong central executive of the corporation with headquarters either at Wellington or Christchurch. He said the Department of Industries and Commerce was understaffed, and compared the expenditure on the Department with that on the Agricultiu al Department. He found that the amount voted by the House to primary industries Avorked out at one shilling for every fortytwo persons supported by that industry, Avhile the votes to secondary industries Avorked out at only one shilling for every 124 persons. “If A\'e take from that,” he said, “the amount expended on mail subsidies, exhibitions, etc., which should not be charged to this account, the amount works out at Is for every 2000 people supported hv the manufacturing industries. Why this difference? he asked. The primary industry must not forget that her best market is the local market, and by helping the manufacturers she is belning to increase the population of this country. The iarmer is not in a position to take all the immigrants that come into the country, but the r < nufacturing industry, with protection, avou Id increase the number of her employees, and absorb all the immigrants that are coming into New Zealand. Australia has found that her local market is 22-4 per rent better than her export. The Ncav Zealand farmer, if he goes into details, avill find that his local market is the best. Therefore he should do all he can to cultivate that market.—P.A.