THE IRON INDUSTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10180, 15 June 1911, Page 1

THE IRON INDUSTRY.

CONFERENCE IX WELLINGTON. [Pkk Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 14. The. question of protection is exercising the minds of ironmasters just now, and a conference on this matter was held at the Town Hall to-day. The ironmasters ask that a duty of 33 1-3 jx'i- cent should be imposed on .such articles as can be made in. the dominion. The president, Mr A. Burt, presided.. The secretary (Air H. F. Allen) stated that a conference was held at Dunedin last February, when a Tariff Revision Committee was set up, Mr Laurenson being appointed honorary secretary. Information had been fathered from different sources, and it was hoped that the Government would grant their request. The speaker reported that a strong committee from the Industrial Association bad been appointed to join in a deputation to the Minister of Customs. He had told the Minister how it was that so little machinery was in the Coronation Exhibition. No doubt Mr J. P. Luke would arrange a deputation. The chairman said ho had read Mr Luke's speech regarding manufactures with pleasure. Mr Luke had spoken in a straightforward manner, and he liopod the electors, instead of keeping him out, would re-elect him. Something must lie done on behalf oi those who had money invested. Mr J. L. Scott emphasised the improvements in cooking ranges on account of the altered, duty. Mr J. B. Laurenson referred to the list of articles that had been drawn up. A Christchiirch firm, he said, had gone in for piano manufacture, but the Government imposed a very heavy duty on the material, and the firm had to give up this manufacture. As soon as they gave up, the Governments said it was verv sorry, and was willing to remit the dutv, but by that time the factory had been closed and the men were away. Both a want of duty and a pressure of duty would ruin an industrv. Last year they waited on the then Acting, Minister of Customs {the Hon T. Mackenzie), who said he could do nothing, as Mr Fowlds was away m South Africa. Later in Christchiirch Mr Fowlds told them that, he might be abio to take the duty oft' agricultural and mining machinery. As secretary he had received the most encouraging results. They had approached the Canterbury branch of the Farmers' Union, but the reply was that the request did not coincide with their objects. A deputation might wait on the New Zealand Union. The only way to do anything Avas by howling and howling continuously. It Avas of no use going to the Government. They Avould be politely received, and told that the matter Avould be looked into, but nothing Avould bo done. Mr FoAvlds told him (the speaker) that the matter had never been discussed.

A lengthy discussion took place in committee, and on resuming the following; resolution was unanimously adopted: " Thnt this conference of the New Zealand Ironmasters' Association decide to accept the assistance of the labour unions in a joint effort to obtain adequate protection for the iron industry." The chairma7i: From this day forth we belong to the Labour Party. (Laughter.) Mr Scott: T have never belonged to anyone else. We are all workers. A delegate: We have been that a long time.

Another delegate: And very; hard Trorkers. Mr .M'Arthur complained in connection with the Wellington Post Office that a special kind of steel window was mentioned in the specifications. His firm desired to tender, and submitted a sample of colonial manufacture, but it was replied that the specification must be adhered to. He thought the Government should support local industry.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER-

The delegates waited upon the Minister of Customs subsequently, introduced by Mr J. P. Luke, M'.P., who said that the iron trade had been languishing for a considerable, time. It could not stand up against oversea competition, and the ironmasters asked that tho tariff should be remodelled so that the shops would bo able to meet the requirements of the whole country and not merely be repair ah ops. The dominion now was sending nearly £1,000,000 away annually to buy imported machinery. Mr Burt said tho only way to raise the status of the ironmasters was through the tariff. Many articles could be manufactured here if the tariff were raised. C'nless .something was done to remedy the existing state of affairs the engineering establishments of New Zealand would have very little chance of progressing.

Mr Laurenson said the ironmasters had the assistance of the associated unions, also of tho executive officers of the Labour organisations, who knew it was no use going to the employers for increased wages while the shops were 1 unable to get sufficient orders to keep the machines running full time. At present the trade was terribly hampered and would not go ahead until there was a scientific revision of the tariff.

Mr J. L. Scott urged that a, protective tariff did not spell increased cost to the oonsumer. He instanced the manufacture of cooking ranges. If there were more manufacturing in the dominion it was possible that wages would be higher and the workers benefited.

Replying to the Minister, Mr Luke said that a list hr.d been prepared setting out the articles on which increased duties were desired.

The Minister said it was practically impossible to deal with the tariff during the coming session. He recognised that the industry was languishing, and it might be found necessary to raise the tariff on certain articles. The Government had to consider how far it could go in the matter of encouraging the developing of the, iron industry, but before doing anything had to wait for Mr Cameron's report. He was not yet in a position to say whether or not a Tariff Bill would be brought in. It was not likely that farmers ind miners would allow the tariff to be increased unless their interests were conserved. Tf they were satisfied ihat the cost to the consumer would not go up he was .nclined to the belief that the majority of the members of Parliament would bo prepared to support, some measure for the encouragement of the industry. The only remedy he could see was to place the iron industry under the Commercial Trusts Act. and if the price to the consumer were increased under the protective tariff the duty would be taken off. Again, there was no great probability of Parliament raising the tariff all round without taking precautions to safeguard the consumer. Personally he was fully alive to the. fact that in regard to .some articles the manufacturers should be encouraged by protecting them. Replying to Mr T>. Robertson, the Minister agreed that it would be a great help if local bodies borrowing money from the Government had to expend the money on materials made up in the dominion.