MOTOR INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20173, 27 February 1931, Page 5

MOTOR INDUSTRY.

BRITISH FEDERATION. LOOKING TO FUTURE.

The Federation of British Industries is a body that "exists to encourage and develop British manufactures and to safeguard the interests of British producers, both at Home and abroad. Nothing that concerns the welfare of British industry falls outside its scope." Officially regarded as the largest association of manufacturers in the world, ita membership includes practically every important manufacturers' association in the country. In the words of the Federation itself, it is "the mouthpiece of the country's productive activity." Obviously, the information of such a body on the subject with which it 19 concerned is likely to be sound) and it may be taken for granted that its w&ya and means for collecting representative opinion on aspects of British, industry are adequate.

What lfl the Vote? • The Federation's vote represents action taken by. that body, covering over 160 manufacturers' associations in the country, oil' the matters set- out btflow, a yapeciat -committee having been appointed in July .lasts — To Ascertain ,the views of members as to whether or not a more general application of safeguarding duties would contribute materially to the restoration ,of prosperity to British industry and a eonß%ueht <nieviation of the unemploymentlpraiblom; ;> 1 |Tp ! pertain the viewport members 'W«*sg%rdrf ; tQ the adoption' of such a .yolifey.l.by Britain,, as .will permit, fk'gwldet Expansion of this policy* of Wfeiptobal agreements between the ;Kingdom and the Dominion a on mutual preference in their respieative markets. ; ! - 'jsA enquiry on the above was circuwith the idea of its being step towards attacking the tin--problem with a view to lelfeving it, and there < was no thought' behind the.enquiry of aiy political or party purpose, directly or indirectly. Result of the Vote.

This wa# reported to a special meeting of the Grand Council (fts governing

body) of ! the Federation, held on 04tctfter "13thj in the following terms:"The analysis of the voting shows that of the definite opinions recorded"(a) _ 3-9 per cent, aire in favour of maintaining the existing Free Trade fiscal system. "(b) 96.1 per ceiit. are in favour of a change. •"Further that:-- v "(&) No_single industrial group within the Federation shows a majority in favour of maintaining the Free Trade fiscal system. , "If the number of firms voting are taken without reference to the number of , t M ir T €m P l °y ees ' Percentages are: (1) In favour of the existing system 4.5 per cent.

"(2) In favour of a change, 9.5 per cent. r

"Again, assessed in this maimer, no industrial group in the Federation shows a majority in support of the present system.

The last statement in the above report is one of outstanding significance, particularly when it is read in conjunction with the rest of the report, which shows that the committee made special efforts to record the opinions received, at their true practical value, the number of workpeople employed by each firm being taken into account. ' * The Next Step. Ijveii those who take the minority view very strongly will be proparod to admit that it ia very difficult to imagine a better way than that adopted to collect representative industrial opinion on a vital subject of the day, and they will, we feel sure, be equally ready to agree that the unemployment problem is one which nobody , engaged in British industry, whatever his position, can afford to disregard. On this account the action taken by the Grand Council of the Federation, arising out of the report set out above must be particularly interesting. After some discussion, part of which was directed to emphasising that the Federation is not going to enter Party politics, and that its attitude and actions are concerned with industry first and last, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:— (.1) The Grand Council resolves that in view of the overwhelming expression of opinion by its members the Federation of British Industries shall proas by every means in its power for the establishment of a fiscal system which will combine the protection of our industrial interest* at home with the widest possible extension of inter-Empire preference.

(2) The Grand Council empowers the president in consultation with the post presidents to set lip the machinery required to carry into effect the above resolution (including ' the raising of such, special funds aa may be needed), cither by means of the Federation's own organisation alone or by co-opera-tion with other bodies or in any other appropriate, maimer, ! (3) The Grand Council reaffirms tihe* Federation's policy of abstention from Party polities, but it Considers that in this, time of grave national peril any .measures and machinery aiming at the restoration of British industry should be, treated as lying, outside the realm of Party conflict.

(4) The Grand Council also desire* ■to place on record its opinion that, While the reform of the country's, fiscal policy, is an ecaential condition for the restoration of i industrial prosperity, it is not the only moaaure required to remedy "the present grave economic distress. In addition, therefore, to press* ing for a change in our fiscal system; ,ths Grand Council emphasises the: necessity of the Federation continuing to nrge, by, ,itaelf or in collaboration with' other 'representative bodies, the adoption of any other measures Which' rqay be dipsigiied to rehabilitate British industry." A i";" 1 " 11 *"" 1 . ' - «•>

As };ke, "result °* 850 accidents, one big English 1 , firm lost 4t,M5 working hours in 1927. Hotels for tourists wJiich will be open winter and summer have been built, along a new motoring vend in Finland, which runs nearly 850 miles farther north than Iceland. ; \

Of the fish eaten in Great Britain, over 85 per cent, belongs to the "dtfeji sea" class.