COACH AND BODY BUILDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 38

COACH AND BODY BUILDERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Tho fourteenth annual conference of the New Zealand Coach and Motor Body builders Industrial Association of Lui plovers was held in Kroon’s Social Hall on Wednesday, when the following delegates were present:—Messrs 11. Bates (Napier), in tho .-hair, L. Joll, C. Cooper, C. Cavnnatrh (Auckland), W. II«S3 (Mornnsydle), 1). Taylor (Wellington), T. Knowles (limaru), A.' Crichton (Oaniaru), V. M’Donald, J Scurf, H. Markham (Dunedin), A Sutherland (Geraldine) and W. Gallagher (Manuhorika). . , A welcome to Dunedin was extended by the Deputy Mayor (Cr W. B. Tavener), and the president suitably replied. The Tariff Committee’s report was presented by the chairman. Mr H. W. Harvey. It, stated:—"The Government is anxious to support local industry but naturally it is its duty to consider the economic side of every local industrial proposition. In our own case, the Government is faced with the arguments of car traders and car owners who resent, the payment of £153,944 per year to encourage an industry which employs only 1302 persons. The answer is that many allied trades benefit as well as those engaged «n the importation of neces gary materials and that secondary industries are necessary for the prosperity of this country. The policy stipulating for the importation of one chassis to every three completed ears, assembled or unassembled, will lead to the expansion of the industry, so that a number of hands will find employment. A demand will be created for a very much larger number of bodies and lower manufacturing costs will lead to a larger reduction in the price of the colonial built body.’’ 'The report was received A letter was read from Mr W. J. Cousins (Auckland), who regretted his inability to l>o present He wrote that the builders would know of the competition from overseas and they would agree that they would have to stand united if they were to succeed. He also urged that the Forestry Department should be asked to erect an up to-date drying kiln to demonstrate the uses to which the various New Zealand timbers could be placed if properly seasoned by these means.—Received. Mr R. J. Watts (president of the New Zealand Saddlers’ and Saddlers’ Ironmongers’ . Association) .advised that his association had passed a resolution supporting the coach builders in their petition to the Government (hat. one in three of the cars imported should be a chassis. A number of remits dealing with the trade were discussed and acted upon. The election of officers resulted a 9 follows:—President, Mr C. Cooper: vice-pre-sidents—Messrs Cavanagh and Markham; Tariff Committeey-Messrs Harvey, Johnson and Taylor; auditor. Mr Bryant; secretary nnd treasurer, Mr Vivian Brown. It was decided that the next convention be held in Auckland in the second week of March next year.