SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19970, 11 December 1926, Page 14

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

MANUFACTURES IN CANADA. RESEARCH WORK IN UNITED STATES. ADDRESS BY MR J. W. COLLINS. A meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, held last night, was very largely attended. The president (Mr James Hogg) occupied the chair. The Chairman said that although the mooting was of a general nature, and open to all members, it had been thought desirable, as it was the last meeting of the year, that all members should receive an invitation to attend and hoar what had been done as to the federation of manufacturers, and to hear what Mr J. VV Collins (secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce) had to say about Canadian manufactures. He expressed his pleasure at the splendid attendance of members to hear what Mr Collins had to say, and extended a hearty welcome to the Hon. Mark Cohen. The speaker said there was no official so well or so favourably known as Mr Collins, and they all knew the assistance he had given at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in connection with manufactures. He knew something of the facilities he ia afforded them, and it was really due to the co-opertaive work between Mr Collms and the directoi that the Dunedin Secondary Industries Court had been brought into being. Mr Collms had left them directly after the exhibition. an d that was the first opportunity he had had of paying a tributeMo him for the assistance he had rendered. They had also heard of the good won M, Collins had done at Toronto. ADDRESS BY MR COLLINS. Mr Collins prefaced his remarks by saying how pleased he was to meet a representative gathering of the manufacturers of Dunedin after an absence from the Dominion of some six months. Ho though it was a matter for gratification that long-promised legislation had been P as = e “ durum last season enabling the affiliated associations to effect a much needed change thus making their organisation easily identifiable to what then membership comprised. He knew that at their last annual conierence, held in Chnstchurch, a definite forward step had been taken in the adoption of a new constlt “‘ tion for all the associations, and that as a result all the registered bodies were now affiliated and the New Zealand corporation was a complete entity. This V" a matter upon which they were to be sincerely congratulated. It was going considerably helpful both to the Government and the department he represented in that they could conduct their work in L much more satisfactory way, knowing that they were acting with a body representing the bulk of the manufacturers o the Dominion. Another important step was the decision of the Government toset up a commission to revise the Customs tariff A further most important event was the creation of the department of research under Dr Marsdon. Ihis important department had been sought for for “any years oast by both manufacturers and farmers and ft must be most gratifying to “hem that this department was abou to function. He fell sure Hurt its work would have a far-reaching .effect upon the economic life of the Hominmn and unt their industries would benefit most maten aliv by the research work undertaken. During the four weeks that he had been back he had made it his business to g So close touch with manufacturers u each of the chief centres, and he had found a great deal of enthusiasm amqpg t {he executives in forwarding mterests of manufacturers generally. It was. “w ever to Dunedin particularly that the other associations would l ook . for h initiative, and progress, in that he unde stood that Dunedin was to be the head Quarters of the New Zealand body-tnat hTeffect the president, vice-president and executive would be located there. He could assure them that no effort would be snared by the department he represented to co-operate fully with and give them all possible assistance. MANUFACTURES IN CANADA. He had written recently from Wellington giving them tome details of that jreat organisation in Canada called the Canadian Manufacturers Association. He was charged with the respmisibility of giving them a message from its general manager Mr J. E. Walsh, of good will and wishing the New Zealand Manufacturers Association all possible success Theie tvas a keen desire on the part of < the Canadian Association to exchange view's with New Zealand and discuss mutual problems. He proposed to keep m touch from time to time with Canada and to pass on to them any information which he might gather and which was likely to prove of interest and service. Whilst he had submitted facts relating to the organisation of manufacturers in Canada, he wanted to say that manufacturers had serious problems to face. Despite tne fact that last year had been one or the most prosperous in Canadas history, ne found that the boot and woollen industries were experiencing serious depression, due to the competition of goods trom the United States, and changed circumstances brought about by fashion. So far as woollen goods were concerned, manufacturers knew that the general adoption ot artificial silk clothing had been a sei ions factor. Men were curtailing their expenditure on woollens and footwear owing to the general use of the motor car. Wellinformed opinion, however, was to the effect that wool would come back to its own, but the demand for footwear was so dependent on general use that it was unlikely to reach the demand of formeryears. The wear had been transferred to rubber tyres, and footwear now lasted infinitely longer because they did not walk so much. One need hardly be in Canada for any length of time to realise the severe competition that the Canadian had to face because of the competition from across the border. The mass production of that great industrial nation, the United States, had made it most difficult for Canada with her comparatively small population to meet competition on certain lines. Constant charges had been .made of dumping, and aid from the Dominion Government was constantly being sought to redress this practice. DRIFT OF POPULATION. Then again the loss from Canada to the United States in manhood and womanhood because of the high wages paid was a constant drain, not only upon manufacturers, but upon the Dominion itself. It had been stated during his stay in Canada that no less than half a million people had been lost to Canada in a short period of 12 months. Just prior to his leaving in October, it was pleasing to he able to gay that the migration had set in the other way, and many of those who had crossed to the United States wore now returning to their native country. YISIT TO TORONTO WORKS. Lie had had the privilege of visiting some outstandingly fine works in loronto. Among those were the ’loronto Carpet Factory, E. W. Gillette works (makers of baking powder paper and household supplies), the Reg. M. Boxer Company (manufacturers of wallpapers), Moffat’s, Limited (makers of gas and electric stoves, which lirm, by the way, did a largo export trade to New Zealand), the Sht;et. Metal .Products Company, and ton factories associated with the T. Eaton Company, Limited, employing GOOO hands. It would tako too long on this occasion to give them his impression of these- works, but he made this observation sincerely believing it to bo true that in general up-to-dateness of machinery, directional activities, and efficiency of stuff New Zealand was at least equal to Canada.—(Applause.) It would also bo a source of satisfaction to them tc know that manufacturers and their experts who had seen the manufactured goods from Now Zealand had been not oniy surprised at their range, but at their quality, considering that no better woollen goods had been displayed at any previous Toronto Exhibition, and that the quality and packing of onr chocolates which were made here in Dunedin, were equal to the best Canadian standard.—(Applause.) Surprise had also been expressed at the quiilitv of the footwear, again provided by Dunedin firms and the design and finish of the furniture. It was indeed satisfactory to him, as their representative, that this praise had been given from such influential sources. Canadian national exhibition. He had had the privilege the previous evening of addressing the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of the Canadian National Exhibition, and he did not intend. therefore, to nay very much more on that subject that night, except to say that the exhibition was looked upon by manufacturers in Canada as one of their greatest fusaU- It was considered the boat form of

practical propaganda end was the greatest possible assistance in effecting sales. Acres upon acres of ground were covered by exhibits from manufacturers, and five buildings were provided for sectional displays. Amongst the main exhibits were electrical appliances, radio plants, electrically controlled pianos, household appliances (such as vacuum cleaners, dish washers, and household washing machines), and all classes of electric stoves. There were, too, great displays of furniture and kitchen accessories. He might make the observation that New Zeaalnd had much to learn, and could with advantage adopt many of these appliances. There were laboursaving cupboards, electrically-controlled refrigerators, and central heating appliances that did much to lighten the work of the housewife and make the homes more hy enic and comfortable. The manufacturers made most tasteful displays of their exhibits, and the stands were much more expensive and permanent than any he had yet seen; but he did not see anything finer than two or three exhibits in the Secondary Industries Court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The management, after 48 years’ experience, left nothing to be desired. Every detail was carefully thought out long before, and faith was kept with the public in that everything was in readiness for opening day. As they knew, he had had a long experience with exhibitions covering a period of 25 years, and particularly during the last five years, with the British Empire Exhibition, the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, and the Canadian National Exhibition. PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION. He had been privileged, however, to see one of the world’s greatest international exhibitions at Philadelphia, known as the Scsqui-centennial, which commemorated the 150 years of America’s independence. At this exhibition 22 foreign nations had participated, and eight States of America. He had spent two days in Philadelphia. The exhibition had almost appeared to be doomed from its commencement. Ihere were three changes of managers, and there was disorder and disruption amongst the citizens. There was not one building ready on the opening day, and but one exhibit. The people from other places had returned to their homes, and had said that the exhibition was a dud. He had visited the exhibition some time after the opening, and the construction of the buildings was still going on. When he had visited a huge building on one occasion there were not more than 75 people in it, and this was at a quarter-past 8 at night. It was, however, a magnificent exhibition. • The reason why the exhibition was not ready was because there was disorder amongst the directors, and amongst the managers. Philadelphia was to be a gesture in reply to Wembley, and it had averaged up to the time he was there only 25,000 people per day. Dunedin had averaged 22,000 per day. Philadelphia failed to attract, and even the people of the city itself would not attend it. The United States section covered eight acres of ground, and it had the most wonderful exhibits he had ever seen, and yet it failed attract the people. Up to the time he had visited the exhibition in October the cost of the buildings had come' to £2,600,000. and not one of the contractors who had been engaged in erecting the buildings had been paid. His experiences both here and abroad had made him very proud of the New Zealand Exhibition and its undoubted success. Taking into account the size of New Zealand and its population, the Exhibition had proved to be a noteworthy success compared with those launched in other parts of the world in recent times. Their success had been assured because of the wise policy adopted by the directors, especially as to location, scope, class of buildings erected, and the beauty of the grounds. History would undoubtedly pay a tribute to the directors and citizens of Dunedin for their splendid services and work. BUREAU OF STANDARDS. Ho had visited the Bureau of Standards at Washington. One of the works carried out by the bureau was to get a better pacer for dollar bills. When they realised that 19 million paper dollars per day were being printed, they could realise that any saving in this direction would be very valuable. It had been discovered that the general use of motor cars affected the life of the bills—the greasy fingers of the thousands of motor workers bad a destructive effect on the paper. A remedy had been discovered by the bureau, and the paper now used had four times the life of the previous paper. Another discovery by the bureau was a brake lining for motor cars, which was 20 times better than it had been five years previously, and which row had a much longer life. Sneaking cf the manufacture of tyres. Mr Collins said that the result of investigations was that fabric tyres had gone absolutely off the market, and people were now able to buy a cord tyre that would give almost twice the mileage. v\ alls of rooms were tested for heat and cold pene(ration, and the happy result of expen mentation was to get a much cheaper wad. and a more comfortable one than before The material was put under a strain, and the breaking point measured. The brick yards were making bricks according to the bureau standard of Washington. Solo leather was also being put to tests. The bureau had been in existence for 25 years and if New Zealand would adopt in a small way some of the work being done in Washington it was going to have a very important effect in the advancement of their manufactures. —(Loud applause.) The Hon. Mr Mark Cohen spoke m eulogistic terms of the excellent work done by Mr Collins at the Toronto Exhibitima. They wanted a New Zealand representative at both San Francisco and Vancouver and a trade commissioner in New York to bring their little country more into the view of both Canada and the United States. Australia had adopted more up-to-date methods in bringing its potentialities under the notice cf Canada and the States. New Zealand could not afford to .lay behind in these clays of fierce competition. Touching on the question of tariff revision, the speaker said ho would like to warn them that they had a farmers’ Government, and that to a large extent thev fed on a Freetrade pabulum. They had, therefore, got to be very careful how they trod in this connection. lie would say unhesitatingly that New Zealand could not afford to overlook her secondarv industries.—(“Hear, hoar.”) She must encourage these industries, without, of course, going to extreme lengths. There should be no resaon why the farming industry and the manufacturing industry should not go hand in hand. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr W. R. Hayward, a heartv vote of thanks was passed to the two speakers.