MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 5

MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the executive of the Dm** edin Manufacturers’ Association was ■ hoW last night. The president (Mr ;Fart6<!» Johnston) occupied the chair. “ALL BRITISH” GOODS. Mr T. Somerville submitted a report on the business carried out at the annual conference of the Industrial Corporation of Now Zealand, held in Auckland on Juno 12 and 15. It was decided to thank Mr Somerville for his report. ,/ The Cliairman said that he hoped the association would not lose sight _of the question of protection against the importation of goods from Britain manufactured from Continental material. He had notired that Mr Massey had stressed the point that ho considered manufacturers and importers were coiYect when they stated that a 25 per cent, duty was not sufficient under those circumstances. Air Massey had mentioned on more than one occasion that_ lie hoped to raise the duty in these particular cases to 75 per cent. They should not let the Minister of Customs lose sight of tliis matter. AVTiile they believed in a duty on all imported materials that could bo manufactured in this country, they did. not advocate putting a. specially heavy duty on goods that could not be imported in! sufficient quantities to supply the needs'of all. He also thought something should be done to supply specifications for supplies of stores for the Government, these specifications to he on view at the head office of the Department of Industries and Commerce and the local office of the deportment for the benefit cf any manufacturer who might wish to tender. Mr It. Hudson said that the department in Wellington would not disclose the accepted tenders for stores. Mr J. Hogg raid that the Wollingteti companies got the business every time, even if the prices were equal. ' i Mr Hudson said they had no check' ht all. There was am absolutely close corporation. If Wellington was communicated with the reply came, back that “they were very sorry’—they could not disclose anything about the tenders. The Dunedin manufacturers and merchants could not say whether their prices were higher or lower. The discussion then ended. /: TRADE WITH JAVA.

Tho Secretary (Mr G, Reid) reported oW the matter of trade with Java. He said that ho had written to the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association stating that his association was not prepared to join in' with Auckland and Canterbury to send a representative to Java, as the Dunedinassociation was committed _to its own scheme up to a certain point and must! await developments. ' The Secretary's reply was approved. ; DUTY ON OILS IN TINS.

The Secretary reported that ho had written to the Minister of Customs in connection with the imposition of a duty 'bn oils in containers of less than four gallons. He had stated that there were about half a dozen firms in Now Zealand whip - hid. laid down expensive plants tp enable tKetn. to pack oil in containers. Practically thle whole of the imported oils came from_ places outside the Empire. Further, the tabulate used by the locsil canister makers was British made, while the container of foreign packed oil Was mainly, if ndi 5 exclusively. made outside the British. 'Empire. The reply from the Customs Department stated that the representations of the‘association would receive careful considerabioh, and that the question of imposing a’ duty on canisters containing other goods Wag present being gone into by the deport- j rnont. ‘ • * RAHWAY CLOCK. . ': W letter was received from Mr H. W-, Beasley, acting for ! the district engineer, stating that the suggestion that an additional dial should be provided on the railwav station clock facing the harbour? side of the station had been looked into, and it had 'been considered that the convenience'to the very small number of people likely to - i be benefited was in no way commensurate with the probable expense involved. Under the circumstances he regretted he could not favourably recommend the request to hia head office. ■ i The letter was received. DUTY ON SUGAR. y The following telegram was received from the secretary of the Auckland Industrial Association; —“In re duty on refined sugar the matter is now serious and should the sugar Wbrks be closed consequent on the removal of the duty the whole dominion, will 'be-seriously affected. We suggest that you immediately communicate with the leaders of the political parties and prefer-* ably all members of Parliament, urging thfl retention of the duty.” It was stated that there would! be no actual saving to the consumers in New Zealand if the duty were removed and that the acitation for the removal of the duty was largely political'. It was decided to support the Auckland Association in opposing the removal of the dutv. ; ' GOVERNMENT ANALYST.

A letter was received from "the Mi roster of Public Health stating- that at the prer sent time the needs of his department ia connection with the admmstration of tbp Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, 1308, were served in Dunedin by the appointment of a, part-time analyst. He understood that was the intention of the Department of In* ternal Affairs to appoint, under the supervision of the Dominion Analyst, a fuU-tjpno officer as analyst. The appointment would probably be made in about 18 months’ time, and the officer appointed would be a fully a.ualitied analyst. He would not have tho right of private but oould undertake some work for the general public, the fees received being paid into the public OB* count. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ACT. ~ The Chairman said that the ’employers were talcing a strong stand against the proposed amendments to the Workers Compensation Act and the Employers’ Associations were also interesting themselves. He understood that the second reading of the Bfll was likely to come before the House ora’ Thursday of this week. He was assured that if the second reading of the Hill went through tlie proposed amendments would lie referred to the Labour Bills Committee" and that an opportunity would be given to the parties interested to express their views before the Bill went any further. The manufacturers and employers in the db-' minion oould not stand a Bill of the sad proposed. It would simply mean that the workers would increase not the vahie of their work but the cost of the work. Thij extra cost would have to be put oh prices, and this extra cost would come out of pockets of tire workers ultimately. Sum,' marised, the provisions of the amendments to the Aot would have the effect of:—(1) Increasing the payments to a worker incapacar’ tated by accident from 58 par cent, of hei weekly average earnings with a limit £3 15s per, week to 100 per cent.,, of >o*B weekly average earnings with a limit of, £3 15s per week.' (2) Increasing the maximum total liability of an employer weekly payments in oases of incapacity; from £750, as at present fixed, to £IOOB. (3) Malting the payment to dependents of worker killed by accident in all cases £IOOO,. and (4) Removing the present limitation o£ £IOOO to the sum recoverable by way of. damages by any worker injured by accident arising out of the negligence of a felloWt employee!. An actuarial investigation hadt been made by the Underwriters’ Association, 5 and tliis had disclosed the fact that the fore, going provisions would necessitate an increase in premiums of 151 per cent. The present cost of insurance to employers off the dominion was approximately £500,000 to £700,000 per annum, and therefore if Mr> Howard’s Bill became law the cost Wouldbe increased bo approximately £1,500;000 per annum. ! j Other speakers also strongly protested against the proposed amendments, and jt was decided to forward a letter to the Hon., G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, and.’ local members of Parliament opposing thedjp inclusion in the Act. It was also decided tpi forward a copy of the letter to the various manufacturers’ associations. '