SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14987, 14 August 1919, Page 2

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

NEW DEPARTMENT WANTED. ' (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. last night. ■ Sub-cOmmittees of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and of the Industrial Assocation met for the consideration of the proposal that a Minister of Industries and Commerce should be appointed. The conference resolved that the time bad come when the industrial and commercial interests of the Dominion must be placed under tbe control of a separate Minister. It was further resolved to recommend : "That the Minister in charge of this Department shall, not hold any other portfolio, but devote; his whole time to the interests of bis ■ Department in developing industry ' and t commerce within the Dominion and eX- j port when opportunity for such develop-: ments occur. Tbat the Minister shall! have under his sole charge a competent: and duly qualified staff of officers for the proper conduct of his Department, with power to accept the service of such' private persons as in the opinion of the-" Minister could render sewvice to the j Crown in promoting the industrial and commercial development of our national life." The sub-committee of the Canterbury Industrial Association has submitted a scheme for "submission to tbe Government for the creation of • a Board of Science and Industry and creation of a new portfolio — a Minister of Science and Industry — the Minister to be chairman j of the board, which would also comprise' a salaried director at not less than £1500 per annum. The committee also advocated that a sum of not less than £100,000 should be voted bv Parliament to cover the expenditure for five years, and that four local advisory committees at Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin., and Christchurch should be appointed.