The Dominion’s Engineering Trade.

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 9, 1 July 1911, Page 726

The Dominion’s Engineering Trade.

(By F. Cooper.)

It has been stated that there is no better barometer to gauge a country’s prosperity or decline than the condition of its engineering and iron industries, and, considering that the advance of nearly all other industries is immediately reflected back upon that of engineering, there appear to be good grounds for the statement. The universal application, however, is nullified considerably in this country by the Gilbertian position of an industry carried on under practically free trade conditions, having to do so with protected labour; a eonsuieraoie handicap when compared with our competitors, who have the advantage of a protected industry carried on with tree labour. Our captains in the Dominion’s engineering industry no doubt appreciate the compliment implied, but unfortunately the results of the peculiar position are shaping to such disastrous ends that an exchange for a less complimentary, and a more common-sense position would be more acceptable by those interested. It is difficult to conceive the equity of isolating an industry so important to a community as that of engineering from the protection so necessary for any industry carried on under the unique position brought about by our legislators, a protection granted to most other industries carried on in the Dominion. Farming, woodworking, furniture, printing, woollens, coachbuilding, cement, are all more or less protected and flourishing. This all tends to upset the application of our opening remarks. Engineering can only advance side by side with other industries when placed on an equal footing; that the industry is not advancing the following figures will prove, and at the same time indicate how the profits of the industry are disappearing: — In 1908 the number of hands engaged in the industry increased by 99 over the preceding year, and the wages had increased by £47,057. In 1909 the hands increased by 94, and the wages by a further £45,936. In 1910 the hands decreased by 469, and despite such decrease the wages increased a further £26,001, or, in the 3 years a gross decrease in the number of hands by 276, with increased wages paid over the 3 years, amounting to £118,994. In 1906, the last census period there were 4729 hands receiving an average annual wage of £BB per hand. In 1910 there were 4683 hands, receiving, an average annual wage of £ll4 per hand., This declining position is further intensified when considered in relation to the population,

as during the time the hands engaged in the industry decreased by 267, the population of the Dominion increased by 73,607. In 1907 there was one hand employed in the industry to 184 of population; in 1910 it was one to 211. ' -n •«

It is safe to say that the extra facilities in the shape of plant and improved methods are not a factor, as there is no doubt but that the condition of the industry has cramped expenditure in this connection. The number of hands in all factories of every description over the three years shows a decrease of 819, 276 of which was in the engineering trade. The importations of engineering products are heavy, but it cannot be laid to lack of enterprise or ability on the part of those engaged in the industry. This is evident by the testimony to our engineers’ abilities to be observed all over the Dominion, including such items as locomotives and waggons, stationary engines and boilers, sawmill plants, steamboats, steel bridges and other steel structures. Mining and dredging machinery, agricultural implements and machines, including threshing and chaffcutting machinery, oil and gas engines, tramway cars, dairying and milking machines, hydraulic and other power lifts, suction and producing gas plants, wind engines and numerous other engineering productions, comprising a varied coFeetion of infinite credit to a country of only one million souls, and comparing in quality to the best imported. It behoves those in power to so adjust matters that this industry should receive a very necessary consideration and utilise to the Dominion the undoubted facilities that are here in the shape of artisans and plant for the enrichment of the country, as well as to utilise the energies and abilities of the many youths who are being educated at our colleges and technical schools, a factor which under present conditions is being alienated from our use by lack of opportunity, and what is possible, further building up the industry in competing countries to our further undoing. At a time like the present, when we are with pardonable pride exhibiting the manufactures and products of the Dominion, it is regrettable that so important an industry as that of engineering should be suffering from legislative restrictions to its undoing, when the very industrial existence of the country is so bound up in its necessary progress. During the four years previous to, and including . 1909, there were imported into the Dominion gas and oil engines to. the Customs value of £362,021. This, with freight charges, etc., would represent a local expenditure of about £543,000, or £135,750 per annum. What is there against this amount being reserved to the country by a protective tariff? It contributed £24,000 as duty. During the four years previous to, and including 1909, there were imported into the Dominion mining and dredging machinery to the Customs value of £191,325. This, with freight charges, etc., would represent a local expenditure of about £287,000, or £71,000 per annum. What is there against this amount being reserved to the country by a protective tariff? It contributed £3564 as duty: less than 2 per cent.

During the four years previous to, and including, 1909, there were imported into the Dominion agricultural and dairying machinery, of a Customs value of £670,000. This, with freight charges, etc., would represent a local expenditure of. about £1,000,000, or £250,000 per annum. What is there against this amount being reserved to the country by a protective tariff? It contributed nothing in the shape of duty. In the four years previous to, and including 1909, there were imported into the Dominion portable and traction engines of a total Customs value of £104,054. This, with freight charges, etc., would represent a local expenditure of about £156,000, or £39,000 per annum. What is there against this amount being reserved to the country by a protective tariff? It contributed nothing in the shape of duty.