SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 8

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE, SHORTAGE OF MEN IN DIRTY TRADES. A shortage of apprentices and workers ui assent.ul traces in the engineering iudustiy was one of the complaints made by a deputation of representatives ot secondary industries who were introduced to the Rhine .Minister (-Mr Massey) by the lion It. Moore this morning. Mr G. T. Booth said that the industry had had difficulties in regard to the supply ol raw material and labour, and tee state had not surlicientlv encouraged secondary industries. lb might be said that -sew Zealand's first concern was primary induotries. but this nad been true fifty years ago of Germany and the United States, and to-day they nad been greatly strengthened by tueir secondary industries. Mr J. Jveir said that the agricultural implement industry ot Now. Zealand was hugely concentrated in Christchurch, and probably three-quarters of tlm total Dominion output come from Christchurch. Every yard in Chris lciiurch was full up with implements which could not be shipped to the North Island. Grout difficulty was experienced in getting skilled men for the trades such us boiler-making, blacksmithing and moulding. Young New Zealanders would not take un these trades, and liio men m them would not work overtime. Therefore the deputation asked Mr Massey to take steps to import skilled men in those trades. Mr A. W. Boa von said that die trades were languishing because there were insufficient apprentices, and oven the railway workshops were not educating their own workmen, and wore poaching oil other shops lor supplies ol men. Mr John Anderson said that if free trade between Australia and New Zealand could be agreed to, the position would be improved, tor the English oil engine or milking plant entering Australia had to pay 10 per cent, as against ttie New Zealand article, which paid 20 per cent. Mr Booth said that the shipping shortage on the coast was very serious, lor every Christchurch workshop was clogged up with agricultural machinery ordered for the North island, but shut out by steamer after steamer, ile suggested that the Government should deliver through the parcels office packages of all sizes. A distinct department for secondary industries would bo ol great value to the Dominion. Air Massey said that ho agreed with almost every word that had been said, for the Dominion was only beginning to realise the importance (if secondary industries, and the report of the industries Committee would be of great value. Now Zealand might not soon become a country exporting manufactured articles, lint at least it should provide ror its own requirements, and he certainly believed that the American system should be followed of not exporting raw material which could bo made up in the country. This applied particularly to wool. He. had never considered the extension of the Parcel Post Department in the direction indicated, but bo would consult his Department on the subject. Reciprocity with Australia had been attempted frequently, without success, but it was no fault of the New Zealand Government, and he hoped that before long .some arrangement of the kind would be made. Meanwhile Imperial free trade was making headway, and it might come in time. He had been! surprised to hear that the llaiiwav Department was not training enough apprentices, and it might bo that apprentices wore not available, partly because Unskilled men were getting higher wages in some cases than skilled men. He would go into the matter with the General Manager of Railways. Immigration had been considered, and ns aoori as nil the soldiers were back immigration would be gone into energetically. The immigrants would not all be farm labourers: a good many would re skilled tradesmen. He bad no end of applications hv persona anxious to settle in N-w Zealand, and it was the duty of the Imperial Government at least to as c iat Hipco men to emigrate to British dominions- ' I | I