LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18600, 30 December 1920, Page 5

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

THE ASSOCIATION'S WORK.

“As far as the Industrial Association is. concerned,” said Mr \V. J. Jen;kin, president of the association, “the past year lias not'been an outstanding one. It has been, a year of considerable anxiety, however, both as regards, shortage oil materials and fiiipprhg and the many problems of labour. All these havo caused much anxious thought to manufacturers. I consider, however, that taking all things into consideration, we havo reason for thankfulness at the way matters have gone. 'lt is impossible, of course, to forecast what will, happen in 1921.”. As regards the work of the tion, Mr Jenkin said that much organisation had been done‘during the year, the effect of wlu’ch would not bo apparent until next year. The association planned to push forward Canterbury’s secondary industries, and to endeavour to have developed the latont power at our “back door”—those ; raw materials with which our-country ia so well endowed. 1 A" big membership campaign would be launched next year, tlm ru[es and constitution of the association having been amended to enable file membership fo be increased, nnd the scope .of the organisation widened. During the year several new industries had come into existence) and the association had, done its part in fostering and assisting them. One of the principal features of the association’s year wa« the question of holding an Industrial Exhibition.® This project had had to be<i abandoned owing to the shortage of building materials and labour, but already there .-were signs that the matter would be brought forward again in the New* Year. One of the most important Events in the year as far as the association was copy cerned was the Progress 'League’s tour of the West Coast. The, association’s delegates on the tour had gathered much information which would be of immoijse value from the industrial standpoint, both for Canterbury and Westland. . ..T.

Tariff reform was a matter of outstanding importance. The association had set up a very influential committee, which will call evidence from manufacturers regarding the revision of the tariff. The results of this committee’s investigations should" be of great value to the Government when, the question of tariff reform arises next session. . There were many matters .which.'the association intended to keep prominently before the Government, said Mr Jenkin. Perhaps the.most.important of these was the coal problem. It was intended to continue t«. impress on the Government the. necessity, for- developing hydro-electric power, so that “industry would not be hampered by. any shortage of coal. ■ In conclusion Mr Jenkins referred to th© loss sustained by thedo&th, during; the year, of Mr Albert Kb ye, a * former president of the association, and an active member for many years.. . - .His death was a. distinct loss, not ’only’, to tho association but to Canterbury.