THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4636, 15 April 1902, Page 7

THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY.

A GOOD SUGGESTION. The following memorandum by Mr S. Brown on the making of rolling-stock in tho colony was read at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association:— “ I desire to bring under the notice of the Industrial Association my suggestion that, ‘in conjunction with the trade organisations, it should wait ou the Minister of Railways and urge the desirability of starting to make in the colony all our requirements in the way of rolling-stock. lam led to make this suggestion from the fact that recently in Dunedin I was told that there were about 400 less men employed in the engineering shops than there were some six or eight mouths previously. Engineering is justly looked upon as the premier trade of the colony, and it is hard for young men who have learnt their trade- to he forced to leave the colony while we are importing what could be very well made here. Some time ago a large order for waggons was sent away, partly on the score of price and time; from what I am informed it would seem that they could have been got as quickly and as cheaply in tho colony, inasmuch as tho outside deliveries have not been up to time. It would probably be better for the Government to undertake locomotive and carriage-building, as I think it would not pay an engine or carriage-builder, to lay down the special plant necessary on the chance of some other time getting a contract, but any engineering establishment can without trouble make waggons, and these will be the chief requirement. I would point out that the Chief Inspector of Machinery has, in his annual report, stated that a good deal of engineering work could be done in the colony that is now sent out. I would also remind members that there was a time when all the bridges were made out of the colony. The late Engineer-in-Chief (Mr Blair) informed me that the Government of the day made up its mind that it would have everything done in the colony that could be done, only allowing lengths of iron to come in, and that, after a short time, the finest bridges in tho colony only cost £1 a ton more than when imported. Tho work was first-class, and douo in the colony. 1 suggest that the subject is of sufficient importance to take an evening to discuss.” A general discussion took place on the subject of the suggestion. Mention was made that when, a year or more ago, tenders were called for similar work in the colony our engineers could not take the matter up because they were busy building dredges (for ohe-half of which they were never paid) instead of putting in their time earning good Government money. Mr Cable remarked that there was insufficient accommodation in tho Wellington foundries to allow of such work being undertaken, hut Mr Luke opined that there could he room enough found now, since the dredge-building boom had ceased. Mr Hurrell pointed out that the Government would only give private firms the overflow of its work, and therefore it would not pay private firms to lay down, plants for the work. Mr Bannister contended that what Mr Brown’s suggestion meant really was that the Government itself should carry out all its own truck-building instead of sending part of it out of tho colony. Mr Luke laid stress upon the fact that the matter was as much the concern of the workers of the colony as it was of the employers, and said he believed that when the matter was ventilated through the press the workers would promptly move in the matter. Mention was made of the fact that when previously the Government had made an offer to the engineering trade a fixed price was stated —it was a case with the firms of “ take it or leave it.” This was considered to be objectionable. One speaker, while disclaiming any positive knowledge, said ho believed the price fixed was lower than that at which the article could be imported. Finally, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Bannister, seconded by Mr Hurrell, “That a vote of thanks be passed to Mr (Brown for his suggestion, and that the Government be urged that all its requirements in the way of rolling-stock be in future made iu the colony, and in the meantime find out the price of locally-made and imported waggons, and the probable requirements.”