PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 11

PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRY

Conference of Common Interests SOLUTION AS BUSINESS MAN SEES IT IX seeking a solution of New Zealand s industrial Air. C. P. Agar, Christchurch, acting-president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, suggests a free and frank discussion between the interests of the agricultural producer and the manufacturer —representing not one district, but the whole of New Zealand. In this way, Mr. Agar believes, will the Dominion determine a sound basis of industrial progress. This appeal for co-operation was advanced by Mr. Agar at the opening of the conference of Associated Chambers at Auckland this morning.

“There is no doubt,” Mr. Agar said in his presidential address to the con- j ference, “that the progress and finau- j cial stability of this Dominion have been brought about by the success of the farmers, and it must be admitted that the country could go along quite successfully if it confined itself to farm production and those industries which could be successfully established in this Dominion without the necessity for high tariff protection. “On the other hand, we see a growing tendency to establish manufacturin industries, and from time to time appeals made to the Government for more tariff protection, and a position quite unsound is likely to result from this state of affairs. It is a commonplace that if manufacturing industries in this Dominion are going to be protected by tariffs, then the agricultural producer is placed at a serious disadvantage unless he also receives consideration and protection. RISING PROTECTIVE WALLS “The agricultural producer cannot continue year in and year out to sell his products on the world’s unsheltered markets and to purchase an ever-grow-ing quantity of his requirements on the sheltered markets of manufacturing industries. “In Australia they have adopted the j Paterson scheme ior the protection of the dairy-farmer, to cover the increased costs which he is called upon lo pay because of the high protection granted to manufacturing industries. “In my judgment the time has arrived when any additional tariff protection to manufacturing industries must be offset by a corresponding relief being afforded to agricultural producers. “I would offer the suggestion that during the coming year the Associated Chambers of Commerce should endeavour to assemble a conference representative of the agricultural interests and the manufacturing and secondary interests of this country, and that we should have a free and frank discussion on the troubles of today and tlie dangers of tomorrow.” Mr. Agar destroyed any illusion that the associated chambers comprised a non-political organisation. It was a non-party concern, but its requirements should be frankly represented to the Government, no matter what school of political thought held the administrative reins. He agreed with those who advocated representatives ! in Parliament of the business community, for it seemed to him that i businessmen were not playing their full part in community life. Election

to Parliament would be difficult, first because their motives to serve the whole of the pepole would be mis- j understood and, secondly, because j their candidature would be essentially i non-narty. Politics affected everyday business, and it was a question of how long business interests could remain outside them. There had been too much legislation and too much interference with business, resulting in lack of confidence and a sluggish money flow. However, if the representatives of the business community outside the House were not heeded, they were entitled to seek the reason—irrespective of party consideration. The acting-president expressed the belief that a great sacrifice of time was being entailed by the overlapping of too many organisations representing employers’ interests —the Employers’ Association, Industrial Asso ciation, Manufacturers, 1928 Commit tee, A. and P. Association, Farmers' Unions, Progress Leagues and other institutions. He pictured one big organisation produced by the amalgamation of them all, not only securing the best in the interests of the employees, but working toward a closer association between Capital and Labour. Present methods never could bring i about this association. He believed that improvement in the lot of the workers, the raising of the standard of living in the country and the prosperity of the capitalist could go hand in hand with co-opevation between Capital and Labour, resulting in closer attention to increased production and a lowering of overhead costs.