LOCAL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY MANUFACTURERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18339, 16 December 1927, Page 12

LOCAL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY MANUFACTURERS.

tariff committee WASTE OF MONEY, THEY DECLARE. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association was held in the Cadena Tea Rooms last evening and took the form of a social gathering, at which the problems facing local industries were discussed. The (Mr A. W. Beaven) was in the chair, and there was a large attendance, including the Mayor, the Rev J. K. Archer, members of Parliament, representatives of kindred organisations, and members of the women's auxiliary of the association. ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of the executive stated that there had been a satisfactory increase in membership as a result of the appointment of an organiser, the number on the roll being 264. With the added expense of organisation the income and expenditure account disclosed a debit on the year’s working, but this was expected. It would be necessary to make an adjustment of the subscription for the current year on the basis of making the annual payment £3 3s for firms employing over fifty hands, £2 2s for over twenty-five hands, and those not on that basis remaining, as at present, at £1 Is. This alteration in the rules would be brought forward early in the coming year. Tariff revision had been the most important matter before _ manufacturers throughout the Dominion, and the organiser had been able to render exceptional service to members of the association as well as to the Federation Committee which was set up in Wellington while the Tariff Bill was before the House. The executive recognised the support that had always been given by the Hon W. Downie Stewart to the secondary and manufacturing industries, but also recognised the extremely difficult task besetting a Minister of Customs when the interests of all parties had to be considered. The legislation brought down by the Government had not been satisfactory on the whole, so far as manufacturers were concerned, the benefits granted being very few and very limited. _ _ The report also referred to exhibitions held during the year, the Manufacturers’ Federation, visits by members of Parliament to various factories, visits of farmers,, and the work of the Women’s Auxiliary. The report of the organiser (Mr E. H. Marriner) dealt with tariff revision, membership, lectures and addresses, tenders and contracts, the Women’s Auxiliary, and other activities of the association. The number of interviews and visits to factories and firms during the year had reached a total of over 1500. Referring to the future, he stated that though much had been accomplished during the year, there was still a great deal to do, and the work increased as time went on. During the coming year the West Coast, Ashburton and Timaru should be organised. He recommended that the incoming executive should consider the advisability of holding exhibitions of New Zealand-made goods at Timaru and Christchurch. The balance-sheet showed an excess of expenditure over income of £241 6s lid. The assets were shown at £5067 8s Sd. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president referred to the activities of the association in connection with tariff matters. He stated that he was not a high protectionist but was in favour of attempting to secure such protection as would enable those industries necessary to our independence of other countries to be carried on, such as wheat growing, and where it could be shown that increased duties for our secondary industries could be given without economic injury to other sections of the community. As outlined in the reports of the secretary and organiser the exertions of the executive during the past year had been devoted chiefly to three matters, ■viz., the presentation in an effective manner to the Tariff Commission of the requirements of the local industries, and to secure through the Customs tariff when before Parliament such protection as was deemed necessary. The association’s efforts in that direction were only partially successful. Personally he thought that if each manufacturer would carefully select individual items which he thought he could expect to sell a good quantity of, and to the manufacture of which he could devote special knowledge and appliances so as to adopt mass production, and then submit facts and quotations to a permanent Tariff Committee, that would be the best way to secure adequate protection from Parliament. TOWN AND COUNTRY. INTERESTS. The executive had devoted a good deal of time to cementing a better feeling between the primary producers and those carrying on the secondary industries. They helped them to secure adequate protection to enable wheat growing to be cajried on, and to keep within the Dominion the large sums ■which had in previous years been sent to Australia and Canada—they in their turn gave the manufacturers some help towards small increases in tariff. “We hoped for better things at their hands, ” he said, “but political parties and inter-island jealousies were too strong for us. We were glad to combine to hold a Winter Exhibition in the King Edward Barracks which was an encouraging success. As a fresh attempt after some years disuse, the Winter Show of agricultural products was not large, but we have no doubt that next year, with this year’s success as an inducement, the display of country productions will be much larger.” CAPITALISTIC SYSTEM. Referring to the relations between capital and labour, Mr Beaven said that no substitute for the present capitalistic industrial system offered anything like equal advantages to the general community. This system developed through two centuries with its great wealth producing powers had been, in spite of its faults, a tremendous advantage to our civilisation. It must, through the opportunities public companies give, be extended until all workers were capitalists; so long as there was a rigid line of demarcation between capital and workers would they be exposed to industrial discontent. Profitsharing leading on to co-partnership was one method. He had no doubt that the genius of the British race for tollerance and compromise would ultimately solve the problem. Employers would be much better off, and employees better satisfied if instead of wages being fixed by the amount of labour available, or by an estimate of what the cost of living was, they were fixed upon what the employee was worth to the employer in that particular business. In other words, by the result of the manager's, foreman’s, clerk’s, or worker's exertions; and by a fair judgment of those results by the employer. A system of payment by results was essential in order to provide the great-

est possible direct incentive for everyone in industry to do his utmost. Such a system could only be hammered out by genius, altruism and testing, but each could help somehow to bring about goodwill. Mr H. Bradley (vice-president) seconded the motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was carried, without further discussion. On the motion of Mr 11. Burson, jun., the rules were amended to enable more than one vice-president to be elected. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr A. W. Beaven; vicepresidents, Messrs 11. Bradley and T Woolf; honorary treasurer, Mr W\ W. Charters; executive, Messrs E. Archbold, F. W. J. Belton, H. Burson, jun., F. T. Boyce, G. 11. Congreve, F. L. Hutchison, S. A. Maddren, R. H. Webb, J. W. Thomas, H. Willis, A. M. West, I. Woolf, H. B. Duckworth, C. H. Melhuish, L. R. Owers, H. C. S. Stevens and W. Thomson; auditor, Mr T. G. Strange. Mr H. Willis referred to the fact that Mr W. W. Charters, who had been re-elected honorary treasurer for the twenty-seventh year in succession, was unable to be present owing to ill-health. He moved that a letter be sent to Mr Charters expressing pleasure that he was able to continue the duties of honorary treasurer for another year, and expressing the hope that he would be long spared to assist the association in the future. The motion was seconded by Mr H. Burson, jun., and carried. The toast of “ Town and Country ” was proposed by Mr F. L. Hutchinson, and was responded to by the Mayor as, the representative of the city. SHOULD GET TOGETHER. Mr J. D. Hall, president of the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union, said he represented the inarticulate farmer. He found it difficult to deal adequately with the toast, because in it was one of the biggest problems with which they were faced, and one which he, as yet, had not given the consideration which it deserved. He was gratified that during the past year they had made a step forward by combining the primary and secondary industries at the winter show and exhibition. He was quite in accord with the idea that they should join hands in providing premises for future exhibitions. Referring to the tariff question, Mr Hall said that the method adopted by the Government of appointing a committee . of Civil Servants to make the investigation was not an appropriate way of dealing with a very difficult problem. (Applause.) He considered that _ the appointment of the Tariff Committee was a waste of time and money, and that it would have been very much better if an independent committee had been set up to conduct the investigation. Town and country, he considered, should get together in an attempt to restore the economic equilibrium of the community. Mr Hall said that there was some cause for optimism so far as the primary industries, of Canterbury were concerned. He quoted figures to show that an increase of 2d a pound for wool would produce an additional £200,000 for the province, an increase of one penny a pound for lamb £150,000 more, and that the increased area sown in wheat would return an additional £450,000, making a total of about three-quarters of a million sterling. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., said that when he cam© along he thought it was for an evening to be given up to jubilation on the part of the manufacturers on the very substantial benefits they had obtained under the new tariff. (Laughter.) But he noticed in the report that the tariff was not satisfactory on the whole. However, it did not appear that the manufacturers were at all despondent regarding the outlook which faced them. As a farmer he had always believed in giving reasonable protection to the secondary industries of the Dominion. That was sound politics. He was gratified to notice the desire for unity between town and country. Mr J. O. Coop, a past president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, referred to the cooperation between the farmers* organisations and the Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers’ Association in regard to the wheat question during the past year, and to the excellent results that were obtained. If they were going to make Canterbury what it should be they had to pull together, and pull very hard. (Applause.) SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. Mr D. Colquhoun proposed the toast of “ Secondary Industries.” Mr H. Burson, jun., in responding to the toast, paid a tribute to the Department of Industries and Commerce for the help it had given to the manufacturers. The manufacturers were only too anxious to reduce costs, and the public could depend on getting value for their money if only they would endeavour to support local in* dustries. Mr F. W. J. Belton spoke on the value of research, and stated that the action of the Government in setting up a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was a step in the right direction. CANTERBURY’S FUTURE. Mr J. E. Strachan, president of the Canterbury Progress League, proposed the toast, “ Canterbury’s Future,” and supported the ideas that had been expressed regarding the need for unity in approaching all their problems. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., in responding to the toast, said that he believed that New Zealand could not prosper by primary industries alone. Primary and secondary industries must be developed side by side. During the evening recitations were contributed by Mr Alec Dey, and songs by Messrs T. M. Charters and F. C. Pinfold.