INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. THE YEAR'S WORKING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association was last evening in the A. and P. Society's buildings. Before commencing the business of the evening the chairman took the opportunity of welcoming, back Mr A. Peppier, who had been on a holiday visit to Great Britain, Germany, and the United 'States. Mr Laurenson, in making his presidential address, touched interestingly on trade and other topics which had come under special notice during the past year. INDUSTRIES GENERALLY. "The reports of the Department of Labour,'' said Mf Laurenson, ' i show that comparatively few of the Dominion industries have been busy through the year. As an example, take the condition of trade and employment as at February 28, 1914. I find that out of 12 trades in 17 localities, 25 per cent, were busy, 40 per cent, can be classed as fair, 15 per cent, as active, and the balance quiet. "As far as these figures go, the best that can be said is that we have about held our own. Now I maintain that our industries are not forging ahead as they should be doing. It is certainly not enough to say we have done all right. A glance at the year's imports shows that manufacturers have added considerably to their plant and machinery, and higher wages have been paid, but there has not been a corresponding increase in turnover. The figures point altogether in the opposite direction, and it is high time that the whole subject was carefully investigated and the results ma'de known. POPULATION BUYING MORE. " Side by side with an increase in the output of our primary products, there should be an equal increase in £ur manufactures. That this is not so any one can see from the trade returns. If figures mean anything, they mean that our industries are not satisfactory, and are getting worse instead of better. "If one could feel that we were exercising restraint in personal expenditure, the position might right itself, but this is just what we are not doing.. The population is buying more than ever, as the trade per capita will show, but it is the imported article we are buying in. &yer increasing quantity. One cannot blind one's eyes to the cause. It.is highly protected labour on the one hand, and the want of a scientifically constructed Customs tariff on the other. THE IRON TRADE. "The other . day the Arbitration Court gave an award in the metal assistants' dispute which means an addition of .nearly £4700 per annum to Christchurch firms alone. , As the court has laid it down as a basis that the difference between , tie wages paid to skilled and unskilled trades should be from 3d to 4£d per hour, the added burden to the Christchurch firms engaging this class of skilled labour would be about £II,OOO per annum, or a total of close on £15,000 per annum. Knowing the iron trade as I do, I have no hesitation in stating that the trade cannot stand the extra burden. First because the manufacturing iron trade is one of the most keenly competitive in the Dominion, and secondly because it is the least protected of any. One section of this traders protected through the Customs to the extent of seventeen pence per £IOO or .007 per cent., while over a large range of articles the protection amounts to 4.37 per cent. "In Canada over the same range the protection amounts to 15.81 per cent., and in the Commonwealth of Australia 15 per cent. In both these countries industrial enterprise and expansion is stepping out side by side with the extension of primary products. A DANGEROUS DRIFT. "I am aware I day myself open to the charge of advocating highly protected industries for the benefit of the few and at the expense of the many. I wili cheerfully bear the unjust charge if I can "draw the close attention of every man and woman in the Dominion to the dangerous position to which we are drifting. Germany supplies in a remarkable manner the position I want to make clear. During 25 years ending 1907 the agriculture workers dropped from 42 per cent, to 28 per cent, of the population, while the farm products rose from 12 to 22 million tons. During the same period raw material for manufacture rose from 74 to 222 million sterling, and hands employed increased by 119 per cent, to 2G6 per cent, over eight industries. "The foregoing clearly shows that the aim of Germany to develop her secondary industries is "enormously successful, and that although her agricultural population fell a great deal, her farm products rose by 90 per cent. "New Zealand must set herself the task to carefully and consistently develop her secondary industries. It is a duty of the first importance to make the land yield its increase, but no less is it a duty of the first importance to turn our boys into skilled workmen and find them regular employment in their own country." TECHNICAL COLLEGE. "Our representative on the Board of Governors (Mr W. W. Charters) has reported from time - to time,. and you will be pleased to hear that the college holds a growing regard in the estimation of all classes. It is recognised that the students gain an insight and knowledge or practical experience, which enableg'irthem to supplement and adjust the theory learned at the primary schools.'' TARIFF REFORM. "At the request of the Minister of Customs this, association placed before him some information which it hoped will aid the Minister when the matter is under review. It is extremely unlikely,, however, that anything will be attempted during the coming session, which is the last of the present Parliament. '' GENERAL MATTERS. "Various matters of general interest and importance have received the attention of the association during the year. As an instance I would remind you of the stand the association took in connection with the Christ's College tweeds question, when the authorities gave effect to the "representation of the association.'' FINANCE. " From the treasurer's statement you will be pleased to note the greatly improved financial position of the association. This is extremely gratifying in that it enables the association to extend its sphere of usefulness in directions hitherto impossible. "During the year the association has lost through death two of its earliest members, in Mr J. L. Scott and Mr E.

C. Ashby. Mr Scott was an ex-presi-dent and one of the band of stalwart workers in the years gone by. Mr Ashby was one of those who in* no small measure helped to make the 1900 exhibition the success it was. The association desires to place on record an expression of regret at the death of these gentlemen, and appreciation of their services and support on all occasions." A hearty vote of thanks to. the president vwaS proposed by Mr Charters, and carried amidst applause. 1 It was decided to increase the association's donation to the Technical school to fifteen guineas. The honorary treasurer (Mr W. "W. Charters) stated that the balance from last year had been £2O, the principal receipts being members' subscriptions £43, and dividend on shares £lO9, bringing the receipts to £205 18/9. The expenditure was £lB7 3/7, leaving a credit balance of £lB 15/2. The assets were valued at £4491 and the liabilities at £23. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follow: — President, Mr .T. B. Laurenson; vicepresidents, Messrs E. W. Belph and A. Kaye; honorary treasurer, Mr W. \V. Charters; committee, Messrs A. Peppier, P. Hercus, J. A. Frostick, 0. Buchanan, W. H. Seed, F. W. Drayton, O. von Sieralcowski, S. H. Maddren, J. Gamble, J. Anderson, jun., C. B. Cogan, A. W. Beaven', H. 11. Best, J. Black, G. Scott, jun., W. Goss, and ,T. R. Hayward.