NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

DOMINION BOARD OF TRADE ADVOCATED. DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. March 24. At a conference of representatives of the Wellington, Auckland, and Canterbury industrial associations, held last evening, a long discussion took place on the question of the lack of support to New Zealand industries, and amended recommendations proposed by the Canterbury association regarding the appointment of a Now Zealand Board of Trade and Industries were approved. Owing to Hie apathy of shopkeepers, it was decided to abandon the New Zealand Industries Week, which was to have been held from the 21st to 29th May. The proposal lhat a Board of Trade for the dominion should be established was put before the Prime Minister this afternoon by a deputation from the New Zealand Industrial Conference. Mr Bennett (Canterbury), in outlining tlie scheme, said the board should be investigatory and advisory, and should be always at work in the four centres simultaneously. The proposed constitution had been drafted and submitted to Die Prime Minister. The corporation would assist in the upkeep of the board, but would look to the Government for handsome subsidy. Mr Massey: Did you say a "handsome” subsidy? Mr Sennett: Yes. seeing that you have an Agricultural Department which costs £200,000 a year, we ask as a beginning a subsidy of one-fortieth of that amount. Mr Massey: Don’t you think it is hardly fair to compare what you propose with a department already in existence? They do not seem to be analogous. A better parallel would be the Board of Agriculture. Mr Sennett: The difference is that the Board of Agriculture is advisory only. Tliis is a much bigger tiling, and would entail a very much bigger expenditure. Mr Massey: Do you suggest that the board should be more advisory so far as the Government is concerned? Mr Sennelt: We suggest that it should have powers of investigation and the right (o call for persons and papers. The whole work will he done gratuitously, except by the servants of the board. It was, lie added, suggested that in his rapacity as Minister of Commerce and Industries' Mr Massey should be the first president. Their object was to ensure lhat on a change of Government the work of Die board should not be interfered with because of any political bias. Mr Massey: You don't want It mixed up witli party polities? Mr Sennett: Thai is so. Mr Massey: i think you are quite right there. Ho bad, he went on to say, had flic matter in mind for a very considerable time, and bad expressed himself, both in Die House and on the platform, in favour of practically what the deputation proposed, Ollier countries bad been doing something similar. In Australia, for instance, they had what was known as Die Inter-State Commission, which consisted of three highly-paid officials, the chairman receiving £2500 a year and Die other two £2OOO each. That commission was charged with the duty of investigating all matters whirl) in its opinion ought to he investigated in the public interest affecting the production of trade or any commodities, the encouragement and improvement and extension of Australian industries and niannfactnres, Dio opening of markets outside Australia, and Die opening up of exlernal trade, the operation of any tariff. Die prices of commodities, wages, and social and industrial conditions, employment and unemployment, bounties on shipping population, and immigration and so on. He thought that what the deputation asked was exactly what was being done by Dial commission. Tie understood they proposed that Die board should consist of 40 members. Would they he appointed by the chambers of commerce nr any bodies already in existence? Mr Bennett: By the industrial associations throughout Die country and also by Die trade organisations. Mr Massey: What about the representation of the commercial people? Mr Sennett: All Die important commercial and industrial people are on the industrial associatinns. Mr Massey: You don't think it would lie necessary to ask Die chambers of commerce to have representation? Mr Sennett: We want Die very best men. no matter where they come Irom. Mr Massey: t think Die number of members you propose is too lug. Mr Sennett: H will be split up among the four centres, Air Massey: The Board of Agriculture lias 12 members - , and we have found Dial sufficient, Air Sennett: The various committees would consist of five each, or 24 in all. Then there would be 12 required for (lie central committee, which disposed of 3B out of Die 40. Air Alnssey: I am afraid you are going to have something in Die way of an industrial parliament if you have 40 members. You will have a lot of time taken up in talk. Air Sennett replied that (he council would not do any work at all. It would simply approve of Die work of Die executive committees in the four centres. Air Alassey: Vou say you want something more than an advisory board. You can't take Die place of the Government. Atr Sennett: We don t ask for judicial power, lint merely to lake evidence and to advise whenever you ask us for a< Alr e Alassey; To bring such a hoard into existence would require legislation. T am in sympathy with it. although we may differ with regard to details. I have no doubt we shall be able to work out something Dial will go in the direction you arc proposing. Prior to the meeting of Parliament, T think it would he a very good thing'if you set up a small committee to meet me and discuss what it may he necessary to .bring before Die House. Mr Sennett: That, is exactly what we had in our mind —say. the presidents of the various associations. Air Massey: 1 have not Die very least doubt that we shall submit proposals that will meet with the approval of Parliament. ATr Sennett; We will set up the committee at once.