TARIFF REFORM

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1799, 29 August 1906, Page 18

TARIFF REFORM

MEETING QUASHED BY THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

DEATH THROES OF THE CANDLE INDUSTRY. The meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association, called to discuss tariff reform on Aug. 22, lapsed for lack of a quorum. At 8.20 the chairman (Mr T. Ballinger) said" the only course seemed to be to adjourn tbe discussion until tbe annua] meeting to be held next month. The fact that the Governor’s Speech (in opening Parliament) intimated that the tariff question was not to be considered this session had kept members away. But they ought certainly to get through with the matter in time for the Government to discuss it during the next session. The Chamber of Commerce and the Auckland Industrial Association had already dealt with it. If those present wished it he could call another meeting. The secretary (Mr H. F. Allen) said he thought things would be ready for the annual meeting, about the second Tuesday in September. The annual meeting had to be held during that month. Mr 11. Seaton suggested that they might get the opinion of other associations and employers’ associations regarding the position. Mr Bull (Wellington Candle Company! suggested that a united appeal might ds good in getting the Government to consider the most pressing claims in view of the promises of the late Government. His company had been hit very hard. Even Ministers had admitted this, and they had promised reform from time to time. The last year had been no better than the previous one, and he did not know what the company might decide at its general meeting to be held next week They would possibly deckle to get rid of stocks and shut down. The chairman here read an extract from the report of the Canterbury Association on the candle industry there, as follows: —“This industry is gradually being killed, the local article decreasing and the imported increasing. Competition from Bur-in ah is a serious factor; labour there is 6d per day, and they have the wax as a local by-product; wax can only be bought from Burmah or flora the Standard Oil Company, and the Vacuum Oil Company, which is merely an off-hoot of the latter.” Mr Bull: Our sales are 60 per cent less than what they were in 1900.