MINISTER ENTERTAINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17881, 8 September 1921, Page 6

MINISTER ENTERTAINED.

GUEST OF INDUSTRIALISTS.

SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION.

A complimentary social was tendered to the Hon. B. P. Lee by the Auckland Industrial Corporation last evening. Mr. F. M. Hills presided over a large attendance. The Hon. C. J. Parr and the CityLabour members of Parliament were also present.

The chairman said the gathering was arranged in order tihat the industrialists of Auckland might have an opportunity of showing their appreciation of the first official visit to Auckland of Mr. Lee, Minister for Industries and Commerce! It was a pleasure to welcome Mr. Lee, who had inspected some of the industries of Auckland. It was hoped that this would only be the commencement of a long period of useful co-operation between industrialists and the uVepartment. They greatly appreciated the interest the Minister had displayed in New Zealand's manufactuies. and looked forward with confiden e to the department being as successful in helping secondary industries as the Agricultural Department had been in developing the primary industries. When tlje department was constituted under the Board Of Trade Act it had been felt that too much promirence had been given to the Board of Trade and too little to the department. It looked as if the board was going to swallow up the department. Since then, however, they had found the department co-operating with industr alists in a manner that augured well for their future deve'opment. The Minister replied at some length, his remarks being reported elsewhere. Short speeches were delivered by Mr. S. J. Harhutt, who dealt with the question of customs tariff, and sa'd that the present tariff hampered industry; and by Mr. A. 0. Lunn, who said the present system of taxation was a bar to progress in industry. The Hon. C. J. Parr spoke brieflv in complimentary terms of his col'eafrue, and" Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., speakinsr on behalf of Labour, said they recojnjised that the captains of industry and labour were interdependent. Mr. H. Dearsley paid a tribute to 'the Board of Trade, which, he said, had done useful service for industry. A fine musical programme was rendered during the evening by the Lyric Quartette.