NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3351, 5 June 1918, Page 29

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

NEED FOR ORGANISATION. DEPUTATION TO MR MYERS. WELLINGTON, May 22. A deputation from the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association waited on Mr Myers (Minister of Customs and Acting Minister of Finance) to-day for tho purpose of placing before him their views in connection with the national organisation of the secondary industries of the country. It Avas urged lhat a special department bo set up to deal with matters relating to industry in exactly the same manner as that in which the Agricultural Department deals with agricultural matters. Tho present state of affairs, ifc was stated, was responsible for important records and data obtained from time to time by the industrial associations being deposited in the archives of the various associations instead of being filed in a department with a view to thenpractical utilisation in the interests of national development and industrial expansion.

Another point brought forward by the deputation was the existing lack of State organisations for bringing together tho representatives of capital and labour. It was also stated that the present Customs tariff was devised a considerable time ago and was now void in principle. A suggestion was made that a board be set up with the object of collecting information for revising the tariff and bringing the whole subject up to date. The establishment of a separate department of industry would be of extreme valuo in connection with new enterprises, there being at present no official channel through which preliminary inquiries could be made and full information secured bearing on the establishment of new business concerns. The association made a suggestion that industries and commerce be constituted two distinct departments, and a board of capable business men appointed in an advisory capacity to the Department of Industries to the end that means bo created whereby the industrial interests of the dominion might receive full State encouragement and support. The view was further expressed that following upon the cessation of hostilities there was likely to bo a considerable influx of immigrants, mainly of tho industrial classes, whoso advent was thought to have no inconsiderable effect upon the trend of industry in the dominion. In reply, tho Minister expressed pleasure at being afforded an opportunity to meet a deputation so fully representative of the industries. New Zealand's policy in regard to trade had always been clearly defined. To put it shortly, that policy had always been the encouragement of our own industries within the dominion and the fostering of economic relationships with the Empire. After the war, of course, the Imperial policy of inter-reciprocal trading now taking definite shape by means of discussions between representatives of tho whole Empire at periodical conferences and Imperial Cabinets would eventually become an established fact, and the course to be followed by New Zealand at that time would only be an extension cf that policy of Imperial preference of which she had always been a warm advocate, with the additional proviso that next in preference to our own Empire there should bo an effort made to swell tho volume of trade with the gallant Allies who had thrown in their lot with us in this war. The Minister stated that it was quite recognised that the secondary industries of the country were becoming more important with each passing year, and in view of tho obligation that lay upon us to organise and develop the whole of our resources towards meeting the heavy financial responsibilities incurred during the war it was all the more necessary that the secondary industries of the dominion should receive the fullest possible consideration. Regarding tho inauguration by the (State of a modus operandi whereby capital and labour might be brought into contact with the object of promoting a mutual understanding, Mr Myers drew attention to the fact that thinking men of all classes and all countries were practically unanimous in the opinion that this was one of those important questions on which the whole future of lair an progress and welfare might hinge. He assured the deputation that this subject v.ms by no means being overlooked by tho Government. So far as the tariff was concerned tho Minister pointed out that it was tho desire of tho Government to review this as soon as a favourable opportunity pr2sentod itself. In his opinion the Industrial Association would bo of material assistance in this direction, and ho looked forward to availing himself of tho valuable data now being accumulated by its various branches. It was his intention to suggest to tho Cabinet the advisability of setting up a small committee, composed of practical and experienced men, to assist the Minister of Customs_ by visiting the various centres and obtaining reliable information as a guide towards an araend-

ment and reconstruction of the tariff. Regarding new industries, Mr Myers stated that it was fully recognised that in future the State would be called upon to accord business enterprise and initiative a fuller measure of support than had hitherto been forthcoming. With respect to scientific research, his colleague the Minister of Internal Affairs was already dealing with this matter. The question of immigration was not one coming directly under his jurisdiction, and it Involved the important matter of policy. The Minister staled that he would bring the representations of the deputation under the notice of his colleagues at the first favourable opportunity.