MOTOR BODY BUILDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 14

MOTOR BODY BUILDERS.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. AID TO INDUSTRY SOUGHT. PLEA FOR TARIFF REVISION. The suggestion that the Government had been so concerned with assisting the primary producer that rather scant consideration had been given to secondary industries was made yesterday by Mr. A. Harris, M.P., in addressing the annual convention of the New Zealand Coach and Motor Body Builders' Association at the Chamber of Commerce. Fifteen delegates were present. Mr. C. L. Neilson presid-

mg. "We must aim for a reduction in the tariff on both British and American chassis," said Mr. E. C. Harvie, of Wellington. "If we can get chassis at a lower rate we shall be satisfied, and then instead of 300 men assembling foreign cars there will be 3000 building bodies. The firms assembling in New Zealand do not even use New Zealand timber. They import it ready dressed, bringing New Zealand labour down to a minimum." More Work in Factories. Mr. Harvie said encouragement of the body-building industry would mean substantial relief for unemployment. Many of the factories would employ 50 per cent, more hands. If the industry had an output of 10,000 bodies a year instead of 1000, allied trades would benefit, and, as an instance, imported leather should not be necessary. "We are up against American competition with its lower freights and huge production," said Mr. Harvie. "The British chassis with a colonial body is an ideal combination with a duty of say, 5 per cent., instead of 10 per cent, as at present." "I believe that if we are going to make New Zealand a great country we must study our secondary industries," said Mr. A. Harris, M.P. "In the past we have allowed the interests of the primary producer to outweigh our secondary interests. Our large towns must depend largely on secondary industries. In previous years we have been able to send the unemployed into the country, but today we find the unemployed from the country gravitating to the towns. We are essentially a primary producing country, but we must consider further assistance for the secondary side. I see no reason why motor bodies should not be built here. Our first duty is to assist workers of our own country by reasonable protection." Improvement in Outlook. The report of the executive committee subsequently presented and adopted stated: —"Since the inception of our organisation, in bad and good times alike, much local trade has been lost owing to the fiscal policy of the various Governments that have held office. For 15 years motor body builders have solidly advocated policies which, if adopted, would have stabilised an industry that would have given employment to many thousands of workers. Some progress has been made, and it is to be regretted that so much effort, and expense is necessary in order to endeavour to create conditions that will ensure the development of the industry. "The motor trade is not overrun with optimists at the present time. Businesses which handle luxury lines are the first to feel the effects when the banks tighten up, and the fact that New Zealand has had an adverse trade balance for so loug has brought it home to financiers and merchants that restriction of luxury expenditure is necessary. At the moment there are some indications that an improvement is in sight. The Dominion conditions have improved chiefly as the result of better prices for our primary products. We also recognise that the Dominion has swung its trade balance into a more favourable position."