INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7224, 25 April 1884, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION .

An ordinary general meeting of the Industrial Association was held last night; present—Mr A, G. Howland (President), and Messrs Wood, Eeese, M<Laren>M‘Dougall, Templer, Crompton, E. Jones, Kirk, Leigh, Buchanan, Ashby, Waller, Lambert, Scott, Curlett, T. Pavitt, Nelder, Cochrane,.Struthers, Dutton, Weston, C. M. Gray, E. Ford, Dawson, Beauchamp, and several others. APOLOGIES. Apologies were made for the absence of Mr P. Jenkins and Mr Sandstein. PBESIBENt’s ADDBESS. The President delivered the following address: —lt is thought to be the duty of the Association to take some steps in trying to remove the depression that now exists in trade, such having been intimated to you in your notices. I trust some have come here with schemes to lay before the Association that will assist in the endeavour to revive business in and around Christchurch. It is my opinion that we shall have to move in many directions in order to accomplish our object to any. extent, but we must try and gain the sympathy and assistance of all classes, and it is wonderful what a body of determined men can do when they put their shoulders to the work in earnest. I think the first move should be for this Association to appoint a deputation to wait on the Premier on his arrival from the South, and lay matters before him as they now exist. First, to show him the necessity of having all rolling-stock and machinery used by Government, that can he made in the Colony, let by public tender in New Zealand, even if its cost is 15 per cent more, and then it would bo a saving to the Colony. Re the revision of the Customs tariff as suggested by the Association—That the Treasurer may see his way to make such alterations as suggested, as this would assist, to a considerable extent, the Colonial manufacturers to compete with the imported g«ods, and thus make work for our own people ; and urge on him the necessity of delaying the enforcement of the additional railway tariff until after the meeting of Parliament, as, at the present low price of grain, it will be an unjust burden on the farming industry of the country, and sylso to all other local industries, in the present depressed state of trade.—The construction of the West Coast railway—This work is most essential to the progress of this part of the Colony. Jt would open up and develop the timber and mineral resources, and make the present waste Crown lands available for settlement, and thus create employment for a large number of working population; it would also connect two large centres of population, who could exchange their produce and commodities, which would be advantageous to both centres of population, as the products of

one are required by the other. We may also urge him to offer the most liberal terms to any Company that will construct the railway to the West Coast, oven if he should offer all the land extending fifteen miles on either side of the line. It is worth nothing to the country as it is, and if he cannot, get a Company to take it up, sell the land, and construct the railway with the proceeds, with the promise that the railway shall be commenced as soon as a given sum had been received by the proceeds of such sales, —Sericulture—See if he will introduce sericulture into the industrial schools. They have the labour, the buildings, the land. All the expense they will need is to import a few families of skilled labour and distribute among the schools. This would not only introduce a most valuable industry into the Colony, but would be the means of teaching the boys in the various schools an industry that would make them useful men. This would be a benefit to the Colony; instead of turning them out no bettor than when they went to the school, they then would have a training that they could earn their own living. I think it would be a good idea to hold a few public meetings under the auspices of the Association, to urge on the people the necessity of using the local manufactures instead of sending away for goods that are no better, and in many cases not as good or as cheap as our own make. Try and get the merchant and importer to join us in our endeavours ; it is as much to their interests as it is to the manufacturer, as he, the importer, is depending to a great extent on the manufacturer and those that he employs, to purchase his goods. By manufacturing it gives you a purchasing power to purchase that which you cannot successfully manufacture, thus benefiting the merchant and the importer. I would point out, although the United States gained 270,000,000 dollars in exports over imports in twenty years, she also doubled her imports, showing proof that manufacturing what a country can successfully, does not injure, but assists the importer very materially. It would be a great benefit to the Colony if we could indue e the agents and merchants here to discourage consignments being imposed on this market ; it injures all legitimate, trade both for the merchant, the manufacturer and the working people. An overstocked market of consignments is most injurious and damaging to trade, and it behoves this Association to do all in its power for the advancement and prosperity of this Colony.

A considerable discussion followed, in which the following members took part:— Messrs T. Pavitt, Wood, Eeese, Gray, Beauchamp, Partridge, Templet, Strutters, E. Ford, Scott, Weston, Fisher, Douglas and others. Mr Eeese then proposed- —“ That the President telegraph to the Premier declining to meet him on Saturday/’ The President, seeing that his views were not in accord with those of the Association, took leave to resign his position, and vacated the chair. Mr Gray assured the President that the views expressed by the meeting were by no means intended to apply t« him. The Association had the fullest confidence in Mr Howland. (Hear.J Mr Pavitt quite agreed with the last speaker. He would much regret, as would all the members of the Association, the President’s withdrawal from the chair. They all felt that no Chairman could have done better service for the Association than Mr Howland. Mr Banks agreed with the President that a deputation should wait upon the Premier. Mr Eeese confirmed what Messrs Gray and Pavitt had said. Mr Struthers moved —“That after the explanations given, Mr Howland be requested to withdraw his resignation.” Mr Waller seconded this. Mr Howland felt the compliments paid him, and appreciated the kindness which had dictated them. He would not like to withdraw his resignation. The meeting agreed to the following resolution: —“ That the Association express its thanks to the Premier for affording, through the President, an opportunity of meeting him on Saturday next; but is of opinion that it is desirable to postpone the proposed Conference for the present.” Mr Scott, the Yice-President, put Mr Struthers’ resolution, which was carried unanimously. The President reluctantly resumed the chair; but expressed his resolve to do the best for the Association in the future as he had done in the past. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the business.