TRADES AND INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 13

TRADES AND INDUSTRIES.

PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA. , ♦ .. RECIPROCITY WITH DOMINION OBSERVATIONS BY MINISTER. VISIT OF HON. A. D. McLEOD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday ( Tariff questions, as affecting reciprocal trade relations between Australia and New Zealand, in the opinion of the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Industries and Commerce, who returned to-day from Australia, are at present the subject of active discussion by manufacturers and producers in both countries. The Minister thought a visit by the Australian Minister of Customs to New Zealand might clarify the position. Mr. McLeod said he believed the Australian dairy farmers would be granted some further protection, but he doubted whether this step would be a wise one, in view of the wish of Australian manufacturers to widen their trade with the Dominion. With regard to the inauguration of the Federal capital at Canberra, Mr. McLeod, who represented the New Zealand Government at the ceremonies connected with it, said his visit had been a most interesting and instructive one. The opening of the Commonwealth Parliament by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York was a ceremony of a most dignified and impressive character. Future ol Canberra. It was most difficult at this juncture to express an opinion as to the future of Canberra from the point of view of its development as a city. He could only say it had already the foundations of a model capita), based upon modern town-planning practice, and was situated in beautiful surroundings. "I think," said Mr. McLeod, "Australians are agreed that with such a variety of State interests involved, the \ founding of a capital was an essentia! feature in the Commonwealth's national policy, and I feel sure that Canberra will fulfil its destiny. "The greater part of my time was occupied in obtaining first-hand inform ation relative to the progress made by the basic and manufacturing industries of Victoria and New South Wales. Id this connection I was afforded excellent facilities by both the Government authorities and manufacturing interests. I would like to take this opportunity of referring to the splendid progress made by the Victorian Electricity Commission, in its development of the brown coal deposits at Yallourn, for the purpose of generating electricity for the State of Victoria and of supplying briquettes for household use. Manufacture of Beet Sugar. "The magnitude of the works may be gauged by the fact that 3500 tons of coal is consumed daily in the generation of 56,000 kilowatts, and 1800 tons in the manufacture of briquettes. Another interesting industry in the Gippsland district of Victoria is the manufacture' of beet sugar at Maffra. When I visited the works the season, which -runs only for about 100 days, was in full swing, and it was estimated that approximately 3000 tons of sugar would be produced this year from about 2000 acres of beet crop. "As is weii known, some consideration has been given to the question of starting this industry in the Dominion, but in view of the fact that the Victorian Government, which controls the Maffra, works, finds it difficult to make ends meet, it is very doubtful whether the industry could be established successfully in New Zealand, where sugar of similar quality is procurable at from £lO to £l2 a ton less than in Australia. Protecting Primary Produce. "I interested myself particularly in the policy of the Commonwealth Govern ment in its relation to protective tariff;, on primary products, and found thai" it is apparently the intention -of the authorities to make Australia WitU'eiv self-supporting so far as its food re quirements are concerned. "During my absence I inspected « large number of works, embracing the manufacture of agricultural machinery, iron and steel, boots and shoes, ware, and textile goods Generally speaking, I found them operating on efficient lines, the huge local market and protective ..tariffs making possible production, which tends to reduce to a minimum In this connection it wris noticeable that the bonus system of pay ment to emnlovees was in operation wherever possible, and that an extension of this method of paving, hv resnlts is the policy of Australian manufacturers. "I was able to obtain valuable information with respect to all of these industrial concerns, and it is mv intention to usp it when the revision of the tariff is beintf discussed during the coming se* , sion, and as suitable opportunities pr" sent themselves."