N.Z. GOODS FIRST

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 11

N.Z. GOODS FIRST

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PUBLIC RESPONDING TO PUBUCITY MANUFACTURERS' MEETING “New Zealand Is a wonderful country, but it is not nearly so wonderful as it would be if we thought more about it,” said Mr. G. Finn, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, at the annual meeting of the association held yesterday. The meeting which was well attended, took the form of a luncheon, and among the guests were the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. J. B. Donald. Postmaster-General, and Mr. W. R. Bagnall. an ex-member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet. Mr. Finn said the past year had been a strenuous one, but good progress had been made. The association had recently entered upon a publicity campaign, the results of which, so far, were satisfactory. The public in the past had not realised the extent of New Zealand’s manufacturing efforts, but these were now known. The urging of the people to buy New Zealand articles was beneficial in that the unemployed now walking the streets would find work. “I want to thank all members who responded so readily to our publicity proposals,” he said, “and also I must refer to the excellent service being rendered the manufacturers by the editor and the staff of The Sun, who have entered so well into the spirit of the work.” He went on to say that the need of a proper tribunal to deal with tariff questions had been felt for a long time by New Zealand manufacturers. There had been considerable disabilities in the past, but the manufacturers had progressed. A Tariff Board was not quite the kind of body needed —what was wanted was a body which might be described as “the Development of Industries Board,” whose business it would be to see that whatever protection was granted went hand-in-hand with efficiency. Protection could be either good or bad, and he believed the time would come when tariff would be lower than it was today. This, of course, could not come about without the agency of such a body as he suggested. Mr. Finn went on to say that one of the difficulties manufacturers had to contend with was the Dominion’s stagnant population. It should be going ahead by leaps and bounds, but during the past two years the increase had been only 16,000 each year. He congratulated the Prime Minister on his realisation of the necessity of getting more people on the land. MINISTERS’ ADDRESSES Mr. Cobbe in addressing the meeting, spoke first of unemployment. That problem was bound up with land settlement, he said, and many of the present problems would be solved by closer land settlement. “WHILE GOING’S GOOD” “The Government,” he said, “has been offered two or three hundred estates at absurd prices, but only half a dozen had been bought. Landowners, if they are wise, should get in while the going is good—l won’t say more than that.” He went on to say that he had visited many New Zealand factories, and he had come to the conclusion that the manufacturers were turning out articles fit to compare with any in the world. He then explained how the Government was assisting the manufacturer in as many ways as possible. He regretted, however, that for the year 1928-29, the clothing imports were £430,000 greater than the previous year. Similarly, the boot imports of £998,032 should not be as great as they were.

Mr. Donald and Mr. Bagnall also gave short addresses. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr. G. Finn; vicepresidents, Messrs. J. A. C. Allum, H. Dearsley, G. Fraser, S. J. Harbutt, F. M. Hilis, A. E. Lawry, J. W. Wiseman and John Wilson; general committee, Messrs. F. N. Ambler, G. G. Chambers, J. H. Dalton, W. D. Munn W. K. McLean, G. Mills-Palmer, A. W. Parker, W. Parkinson, F. W. Petterd, S. S. Scott, S. Takle, C. A. Whitney, H. Welsh and E. W. J. Bowden, of the Department of Industries and Commerce auditor, Mr. W. Wallace Bruce.