INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION OF CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7329, 15 February 1902, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION OF CANTERBURY.

-. • ■ ♦ ; : -.;■■•- ' The annual meeting of the Canterbury ! Industrial Association was held last night. Mr R. E. McDougall (president) was in l.the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members.! | The annual report stated that after the conclusion of the work entailed by the Jubilee Exhibition, the. committee had .very little to do for the remainder of the year. The various Labour Bills brought before the House had been carefully gone into, and the question of technical education had been fully discussed, and a .committee . appointed to formulate a scheme for bringing the matter fully before the public. As the result of their labours, a large meeting had been held on Feb. 11.. It was hoped that during the year some workable scheme would.be decided on in the -interest. of technical education. The committee, instead of renting one of the smaller halls in the , Industrial Buildings, had fitted up a portion of the corridor on the first floor, which had: made an excellent meeting room. The Industrial Scholarships' presented to the. School of Art by the Association, had been»won by W.V-S. Earwaker, Frank B. Opie and William L. Archbold. !The committee concluded its reby expressing its regret that, in con--sequenca, of heavy importations of rolling stockvfor the railways, there was a prospect of a- large number of men being thrown out of employment. The Association would I again urge upon the Government the advisableness of manufacturing, as far as possible, within the' colony; all articles required for public service. ■ • The balance-sheet showed * receipts amounting to £4491 16s lid, and expenditure £4305 10s sd, leaving a balance at the bank of- £lB6 6s 6d. The Association's assets amounted to £5136 6s" ,6d, and its liabilities to £603 10s. r , In, moving, the adoption of the. report and ffolaiM^^eti the Chairman spoke* -of- the ! anxiety, tt at present evinced in,-.- the colony, for; new- markets for frozen mutton, ■ grain and-dairy' produce? He' said that- he 'thought the Government was quite right in offering large subsidies for a steam service to South i Africa', but they should first of all strive to build up the local market. New Zealand must find it more' difficult every year to compete with other countries for the Home market, but/if New Zealand could consume the greater part of her produce, vast sums - would be saved tt>- the farmers every year. They should, thereforei endeavour to increase the population. The Governmenthad i o f one"its" share in opening up .th'a'cfiuotr^, . -and :rit -now remained with tte^indusntries tpid9, their part by improving the quality of their goods, and keeping right up to-date wjth machinery and " appliances, so that l^oal manufactures should gain a name eqyal to that of New Zealand mutton. The prosperity of local industries would depend largely on the people of the colony. If the people took 'care always to demand locally niade goods, all would" be well. Under the labour legislation of this colony tbe goods would be produced in reasonable hours and at a fair wage, and mijjht therefore cost a shade, more than foreign manufactures, iini unless the people stood by their, .own jinanHlacfautes there would be a. denvfii-. of ' ; employment' for young men-, and a consequent erV for cheap passages to South Africa. The fostering of local industries wfts the aim of the Association, and it had Kad a fairly successful year. Its endeavours to promote a thorough scheme of technical education were of very great importance, and : ha trusted that they would meet with success. . ■ ■ = ■ The motion was seconded by MrT W. > Minson. . Mr B. Allan paid that the President's speech had- been in' accord with the spirit of thf Association., In regaid. to tt-j importation of roliinpt stock for the railways, he th'cughk.that they were quite right in brin ring tne" matter before the Government. :No "doubt the Government: felt the nepessity of encouraeing manufacturen=. but just when, it -..had .been found advisable to in-' crease the= polling stock, . the iron workers, were busy with mining machimrv. The Government had had to increase its stock ' owing .to the very successful harveFt.. How- ■ ever, when goods* that could be made within : the colony were ordered from outside, he I thmighf that it was their duty to protest, ■ arid "to argue that' the matter should be | kept more than "steadily in " view. " ■' Mr R. Buchanan endorsed the remarks made by Mr Allan, considering that a very strong representation should be made ito the Government; -.-■ "'■:-. .Mr^ -Kirk &aid ' that he thoU^.i'. . th^t the Gpvtrhment . shoitld be 'fo'temost' in supporting lecab industries. ■- , He consi-ilei- { ed that the manufacturers of 'New 'Zealand ! were well able t'b meet the .colony's, de- • mands. The, importation of foreign articles j was not only against tha spirit of the AsI sociaticn, but also against -the interests -of the colony. Although a suppprfcer of the present Government, he' could ..not but blamo it for its non-support of local industries; but he would point out. that a- little., pressure from, the various manufactiirers' Associations would, in all probability; have ' been beneficial: Anything that was routed- ' ed from outskle tlie colony should jibe? in t i- '' ported from England, and inftHe- event of her failure, should be obtained ftom^i&mc- ; rica. ■ : s!he report arsd balance-sheet were adopte|. ' ' " ' :■ ' •'• ' ••• .:• ! 'The election of officers for the ensuing- ! year resulted, as follows :^-President, Mr ! W. Minscn; vice-presidents, Messrs J. 0. ! Wilkin and W. Scy ; honorary treasurer, Mr W W Charters ; coimniittet— Messrs R. Allan, G. T. Booth, A. W. Beayen;. R. Buchanan, W. Crtngreve, J. Cuneali,: G. 8,. Elliot, J. A. Frostick, H. Hepburn,. A. H: Hancock, G. W. Horsl<?y,V:G. H t .;irar.t, A. G. Howland, J. .Mitch«ll, ; M. E. M'Dougall, M. Murphy, A- Pepplar,- J. L.Scott, S. Hurst Seager and J. Ri-- Triggs. : I Mr Minaon, 'the newly-elected president, ! took the chair, and thanked the membsrs : ■ for the imexijected honour they had conferred on him. j Messrs Charters, Allan and Tanner congratulated t&e President en his election. . Votes of thanks having been accorded tc the auditor (Mr Mitchell), and^to the jiono rary secretaiy (Mr W. W. Clmiersjy/tliir meeting closed. "*'* :