INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16019, 10 September 1915, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

THE IRON INDUSTRY. EMPIRE TRADE LEAGUE. Thb Auckland Industrial Association met , yesterday afternoon at the office of the ! secretary, Mr. T. E. Whitton. Mr. S. J. Harbntt presided over a good attendance of members. At the last meeting of the association it had been decided to amalgamate with : the Empire Trade League. Letters were received from the Wellington and Christchurch Industrial Associations, • expressing the fear that their associations would thereby be "swamped." The chairman pointed out that the Southern bodies had not grasped the significance of last month's decision. It was really a case of the association absorbing the Empire Trade League, and it was impossible for the association to be " swamped." The object of the league was to promote preferential trade within the Empire. The whole question was referred, after a discussion, to the Industrial Corporation. Li reference to the question of the manufacture of munitions in New Zealand, the chairman remarked that a phase of the matter had been overlooked. Was this, he asked, not the time to approach the Government, and urge the establishment of the iron industry in New Zealand? The raw product was available at Parapara and elsewhere, and all that "was needed was the works. It was decided to inform the Hon. A. M. Myers that the association noted with pleasure his action in regard to the manufacture of munitions, and suggesting that a subsidy be offered for the establishment of the iron industry. The matter will be brought under the notice of the Industrial Corporation. A letter was received from Mr. R. Cranwell, of Parnell, in reference to afforestation, which was the subject of a comprehensive report submitted to the association recently. The Government, he said, was not giving sufficient encouragement to settlers to plant trees. Men had apnlied for young trees, but could not obtain them from the Government, which took un the attitude that it should not interfere with the nurse-ymen. New Zealand imported a laree quantity of eoods made from beech, .which they could grow easily. Black wattle was suitable for the erowine of pit props, and he advocated the crowing of walnut, chestnut, and the hickorv nut trees.

The chairman expressed regret that one of the largest insurance companies doing business in Auckland, which was at the present time erecting a new building, called for tenders for the material for the iron frame windows, and sent the order out of the country to effect a saving of £20 on a contract running into four figures. It was now too late, he added, to take any action.