N.Z. INDUSTRIES

Southland Times, Issue 21650, 11 March 1932, Page 7

N.Z. INDUSTRIES

DETAILS ASKED FOR INFORMATION FOR OTTAWA CONFERENCE PREPARING A POLICY K (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, March 10. Already the Government is taking steps in preparation for the formulation of its policy at the Ottawa Imperial Conference this year and it is understood that notice will be Gazetted this evening asking for the fullest, possible information regarding New Zealand industries. Steps have been taken, it is believed, to obtain the fullest information about primary industries and now the Government wishes to send its representatives to Ottawa with the latest particulars as to articles manufactured in New Zealand. The Government of course already has information regarding manufactures from the Census Office, but that information is treated as strictly confidential and the Government Statistician is not permitted to give it to any other department or person. Therefore, the Government, after consultation with the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, has decided to ask each manufacturer to send to the Controller of Customs, Dr G. Craig, as soon as possible, but not later than April 15, a statement of particulars in connection with his business during the latest period of twelve months. The particulars required are the nature, business, capital invested, value of buildings, plant and machinery used, the name of each class of article manufactured and the total production, that is factory cost finished articles during the 12 months' period, the number of employees engaged in manufacturing each class of article, the value into the factory of each class of raw material used in a factory under the headings imported with the country of origin and made and produced in New Zealand, the total average number of persons employed in the business, the total salaries and the wages paid. It is not desired in the meantime that the particulars should be forwarded regarding any primary products or butter, cheese, fresh, frozen or salted meat, scoured wool, etc. These are not regarded ordinarily as coming under the heading of secondary industries. It is desired that such articles as shirts, suits, corsets, steel window frames and electric ranges, should be classified separately and not under general headings. The figures for normal years are desired more than those for abnormal periods and where the exact figures arc not available, estimates will be received.

IMPORT AN CE ST R ESSE I)

DOMINION REPRESENTATION. DELEGATES FROM INDUSTRIES. The importance to all unite of the British Empire of the approaching Ottawa Conference was stressed by Mr D. Rutledge in the course of his post-presidential address at the annual meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr Rutledge urged that representatives of the industries of the Dominion should accompany New Zealand’s delegates as special advisers. The meeting approved of the suggestion and carried a resolution urging that such representatives of industries be appointed to attend the conference. “Decisions at this conference of vital importance to the Dominion’s well-being will be made; bargaining will be the order of the day, and it follows that each independent unit of the Empire if seized of its importance ensure that its representatives shall be men conversant with the industries of their own country, and the quid pro quo to be received in consideration of advantages in trade asked for.

“I understand that the present intention is that New' Zealand will be represented by the Prime Minister, Mr Downie Stewart and Dr Craig. No doubt expense must be an important consideration, but the issue is of such vital importance to the future of the Dominion I suggest an overregard to the question of expense may in the future seriously react on the wellbeing of New Zealand. “1 think therefore that at least there should accompany the three gentlemen mentioned representatives of dairying, meat, wool and secondary industries as special advisers. Another name suggests itself to me, that of Sir James Parr, lately representing the Dominion in Britain, as being more conversant than anyone else in the Dominion with marketing requirements and conditions there. Should the expense of all these be considered too great, then I think that each industry should pay the expenses of its own representatives. I feel sure the expenses would be a good invastrment.”

Mr A. le H. Hoyles moved a recommendation in accordance with Mr Rutledge’s suggestion that the various interests should be represented at the conference. If the Government was not prepared to pay the cost of sending such representatives to Ottawa, each industry should pay the expenses of its own representative. Mr C. Bradfield seconded the motion. He said it was very important that each industry should be represented. If it was likely to be beneficial, the matter should be fully explored. The motion was carried. • „