MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22675, 13 September 1935, Page 6

MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF GENERAL CQMMITTTEE A meeting of the General Committee of the Dunedin Manufacturers' Association was held yesterday afternoon. The president (Mr T. Somerville) occupied the chair. DEATHS OF MEMBERS The chairman referred to the deaths of Messsrs F. W. Cleavin, J. Romison, W. C. Hopkins, and W. E. Lane, members of the association, those present then standing in silence. DOMINION COUNCIL The chairman said that he and Mr James Hogg had attended a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Federation held in Wellington on August 29. He referred to the financial position of the federation, and said that the general secretary (Mr Mander) had made an interesting statement. Information gleaned from various sources, had, stated Sir Mander, enabled him to estimate that during the preceding 12 months the number of workers employed in secondary industries in the Dominion had increased, roughly by 9000. They would therefore see the help the secondary industries were to the country. The Christchurch Association had submitted a report on the- question of unemployment said the chairman, and that association had been asked to draft a report on the industrial remedies for unemployment. Reference was made by the chairman to the steps being taken to get other industrial organisations to link up with the federation, so that uniformity might be able to be reached on Dominion questions affecting industries as regarded the matter of an amendment in the Commercial Trusts Act. Mr Masters had undertaken to bring this before Parliament. Their association had agreed to support the federation in its support of the Bill as introduced last session. He thought they might confidently look forward to the Bill being placed on the Statute before Parliament rose. A good deal of discussion had taken place on the question of the taxation. They were not looking at the matter from the same angle as the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and it had been decided that the Government be informed that if any reduction of taxation was practicable the view of the federation was that the following order should be adopted:—Primage on United Kingdom goods, wages tax-relief for the lower-paid workers. Mr Hogg remarked that the chambers of commerce were pushing for reduction in the sales tax. It had been decided, in order to save money, said the chairman, that the next annual conference should be held in Wei lington, instead of in Auckland. The chairman referred to other minor matters which will come up for further consideration in due course. Mr Hogg also spoke on the business done at the meeting of the Dominion Council. As regarded the Commercial Trusts Act their only desire was,to cut out unsatisfactory price competition. GENERAL Mr J. G. Jeffery made reference to the system adopted in France of employing ex-soldiere in handcraft work, and said that the men in Dunedin who were engaged in this work showed praiseworthy independence, as .the money they earned was deducted from their economic pensions. These returned soldiers, however, preferred to work rather than rely on their economic pensions. It was- considered that the best way to foster the work of the ex-soldiers and not inflict a hardship on others engaged in such industries was to endeavour to keep the prices of the foods up and se<? Hint the factories were run on a commercial basis. Mr J. J. Adess was reappointed to represent the association on the Vocational Guidance Committee, and it was decided to thank him for his past services.