INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 10

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of tho Industrial Association jras held last night, when Mr F. E. Jones (president) occupied the chair. There were a goodly number of members present. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The President said that during tho year the Association had been much occupied hi promoting the week's display of New Zealand industries in tho shop -windows, which was proposed nt tho last annual meeting. The wish of the Association that tlie project should be undertaken simultaneously all over the Dominion was only partially realised, but in Chri-tchurch and Wellington the scheme proved a great succe.su., receiving complimentary mention from the Press of the Dominion, as well as the Commonwealth. In Auckland the promoters postponed their successful display for Fleet Week. It was generally conceded that the displays wore a credit to New Zealand industries, and) should do a great deal of good in the education of the public to the excellent qualities of tho Dominion's varied manufactures. Mr Charters brought before the Association a scheme to further educate the rising generation to support Dominion-made goods, by the organisation of a series of lectures with lantern slides in all the leading schools. A special committee had been set up to push forward tlio object, and the School Committees' Association had appointed Mr K. AY. Seager bad very kindly ottered his assistance in connection *with the scheme, .audi it was hoped, tho movement would be successfully started' soon after tho schools resumed work. A deputation waited on Sir Joseph Wardwhen ho was in Cliristchurch this month, with regard to tho project. Sir Joseph thought the idea an excellent one, and promised to provide for the purpose a number of lantern slides relating to Government industries. Ho (the president) was satisfied that vei-y much good could be doiie by these means. To foster a spirit of loyalty to local manufactures in the young was ono of tho surest loads to success, and Mr Charters deserved the thanks of the Association for having brought forward another of hie many original and excellent suggestions. During the year the ceremony of firing the first shot in connection with the Otira tun--1 ncl was performed: by Sir Joseph Ward, in the presence of visitors from all parts of the Dominion. Mr A. G. Howlandi was deputed to represent tho Association at the function, but owing to floods at the Bealey, he was unfortunately unable to arrive in time. It was a matter for congratulation that the work was proceeding satisfactorily, and there was every prospect of th© line being completed in contract time. The Association passed a resolution urging the Government to proceed with the laying of the line at this end, so that on tlio completion of the tunnel the through traffic might bo accomplished-, and an assurance had been given that it was the intention of tho Department to do so. The report of the English engineer on tho canal scheme had been received', and had 'been much criticised by the Harbour Board, and general public. A Canal League had been formed, meetings had been held, in Christchurch and suburbs, which had/ been largely attended, and resolutions favouring t,he project passed. The Harbour Board had sot up a special committee, who were preparing statements dealing with the financial feasibility of the oanal, but the Association had not committed) itself to a definite opinion until the report of the committee had been brought down and ftwfy considered. The usual subsidy had been voted to tho Technical College, and the Association had been worthily represented by Mr Peppier on the Board. In regard to the Lyttelton line, the efforts of those interested! had been slightly rewarded in the concession granted by the whereby the rates on measurement goods wore now charged at not moro than twice the actual wejght, as on the Invercar-gill-Bluff line, and' it was to be hopou' that further justice would in the future be conceded. Tlie matter of a display at the Agricultural Show had not been taken up by the oommitteo during the year, but after witnessing th© very largo number of people visiting the Show at Carnival time, ho (the speaker) was sure they were missing an excellent opportunity of advertising their industries, and he hoped tho subject would be again considered. A combination of those already displaying, with others, organised by ibis Association, could be. mado a great attraction and a most effective means l of bringing their manufactures before almost all sections of the public. With an Industries Week and an exhibition at the Show, much useful work would be performed, when- he was sure a much greater interest in local industries would' be aroused. The natural industries also were very closely related to the agricultural and 1 pastoral, and' the more raw material. they oould work up by their own labour in the colony tho greater would be the local spending power, in which the primary producer would large benefit. Ho had had the very great pleasure, accompanied', by members* of the committee, of visiting the very fine factory and warehouse just' erected in, Manchester street by the energetic Kaiapoi Woollen Company. The complete organisation, in all its departments was a credit to tlie company in particular., and tho Dominion in general, and it was hoped tho public would' largely bock - up the company's efforts by strongly supporting and using their manufactures. He desired to express his sincere thanks to the officers and members of the committee who had so loyally supported him during his term of office, audi especially thoso members who worked so zealonsly to make thc New Zealand) Industries Week a great success. Tho President then moved the adoption of the report. Mr Howland seconded the motion, and expressed regret that there were not more members of the Association. He hoped to 6ee new blood coming into the Association and helping it in itgood work. He would liko to see tho younger generation coming forward to take a share in the work, which had been carried on so well by the older members. In years gone by the public took a keen interest in the Association, and now that it was thirty years old. he would like to see the Association increase considerably in membership. It was not necessary, he thought, to form the Employers' Association, as the Industrial Association could well have incorporated in itself the work now done by the Employers' Association. ,'He thought that the making of locomotives by tho Government was a mistake, and that they should call for tenders from private firms, which would ba a saving to the country, instead of, as at presont. the work being carried on at a loss. Mr Cooper spoke in favour of some steps being taken in the direction of increasing the membership. Mr Frostick said he could not quite agree with Mr Howland as to his reference to the Employers' Association. Seme twenty-five ,years ago the industries of tho colony were being built up by the workers, the employers, and the public. In those days that unfortunate distinction between employers ana employed which now existed was not present, and' all vied with each other in building up'the industries. But. early in the 'nineties that distinction to which he Ijad referred grew up. and both sides attempted to build up their own interests, and neglected the general interests of all. What the Industrial Association should- now do was to carry out the excellent idea brought forward by Mr Charters, and endeavour to bring capital and labour closer I

together. Tho industrial classes, he felt, were quite as keen in the work of budding up the industries; but they were ruled by a small class, who led them, and they now looked rather to their own ends than the prosperity of tho industries of the Dominion. To remedy this was tho work before the Industrial Association. They should endeavour to do this; the Employers' Association could not, because they were organised to meet the combination of organised labour. If they could reconcile these two classes, the Association would be doing a great work. Mr Buchanan saitf thar\when in Belfast in August- last he saw the shops all displaying Irish goods in a way similar to the Industries Week which he understood was held here. The Industrial Association couM not go into politics, and that was the reason why the Employers' Association was formed. Now employers wore looked uponas a kind of felon, and they were legislated for as to when they should their shops, when and how they should pay their men, etc. Tho motion was then put, and carried. FINANCIAL. The balance sheet showed the receipts during the year to have been £'21lj 5s (3d. including n balance of £1)0 7s from last yonr. The expenditure had been £130 lis Bd. Tlie gross expense for tho Iyocal Industries Week hnd been £10 IGs. There was a balance in hand at tho bank of £06 3s. The liabilities were nil, and* the assets £4461- 3s. The balance sheet was adopted. GENERAL. - A letter was received from Messrs Ford and Badger with reference to the Local Industries Week, hoping that the scope would, be increased', and that a "Christchurch Week" committee would he set up, with, the Mayor as president, including representatives of the various industries, to carry out the details. Mr Ford; moved:—-"That the letter be referred to tho incoming committee." Mr Charters seconded _the -motion, which was agreed, to. The President reported the election of office bearers as already published. Several new members were elected. Mr Peppier, tho representative ot the Association on the Board of Governors of the Technical College, reported as to the work of the college during the year. He contended, that tho gold medal given in the trades section should, be awarded on the work of the year, say, up to the Christm.Ts vacation. Ho also thought tho gold medal should be awarded! throughout the trades. Now that the cabinet makers had hadi the medal, he thought the plumbers' section should have a chance next year. As for the competition in tlie cabinet-making class, his work would challenge competition in any part of tbe world. Mr Charters moved:—"That the sum of £10 be voted towards the Technical School." Mr Southworth seconded the motion, and urged that less ambitious work should' be taken in hand by tho students., as they h.nd< not time to complete tho work in. the year. The motion Nvas agreed to. Mr Peppier was re-elected representative of the Association on tho Board l of Governors of the Technical College. The Wellington Industrial Association forwarded a copy of the awards made to New Zealand exhibitors' at the Exhibition at Shepherd's Bush. The letter was received).