PRINTING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 55, 28 November 1907, Page 5

PRINTING TRADE.

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH. (BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ' ASSOCIATION.) _, . Christchurch, November 27. A oonferenco of representatives of tho different Master:-Printers' Associations of Now Zealand was held to-day, when it was decided to form a federation of the Associations. There were present at the conferonce : Messrs. Wilson' (Auckland Master Printers' Association), J. ,W. Lankshear, Banks, and F, Vaughan (Wellington Association); P. Selig .(manager of the Christchurcli " Press Company); G. H. Whit-, combo and W. S; Smith (Christchurch Association); W.:H. Foden (South Canterbury Association); ,W. G. Somervillo; J. M'lndoo, and W. £torio' (Dnnedin Association); W. Smith (Invercargill Association); and -N. M'Robio (Wollington ." Times "). . 1 Mr. Selig was voted to the chair, and he welcomed tho visiting delegates, and congratulated the meeting upon its representative character/ One of the main reasons for tho', calling' together of the conference, he said l ,' was to consider tho question of tho increased cost of tho jiroduction of printing houses caused b,v the higher wages which now had to bejjaid in'various departments of tho trade. Ho then callod upon tho representatives of the Dunedin Association, with which body the idea of forming a-federation-origin-ated,'to addrbss the meeting. Mr. Somerville, tho president of the Dunedin Master Printers'' Association, said that he estimated that'about a million of money was invested in the printing'houses in New Zealand, and .some thousancls of people were employed in tho. trade. The timo had arrived when steps should bo taken to protect tho interests of tho printing house proprietors, and ho therefore moved that a federation of the Mabter Printers' Associations of New. Zealand should be formed. The motion was seconded bv Mr. Vaughan supported by Messrs. Banks, Lankshear, M Indoe, Smith, AYhitcombc, and tho chairman; and carried unanimously,' . It was resolved that tho name of the now organisation should be "Tho Federated Mastor Printers' Association of Now Zealand," and that the executive should eonsist of a president, vice-president, and council of five members. I lie election of tho first office-bearers was then proceeded with, and resulted in tho following gentlomen being returnod without opposition:—President, Mr. P. Solig; VicoProsidorit. Mr. Somerville; Council, Messrs. G. H.- Wlutcombe (Christchurch), Banks, (Wollington), Wilson (Auckland), Pirani Foilding, and W. Stone (Dnngdin). ) The question of tho framing of a. constitution for the federation, the drawing-up of rules, and the fixing of the annual subscriptions wore loft to the executive to arrango. It was resolved that the first annual general meeting of tho Association should be held in Christchurch during February of next year, the ' precise date to be fixed bv thn Council. ' .. . After some discussion, a motion was carried affirming tho desirability of fixing a standard basis for the cost of composing and lotterpress machining, and each affiliated association was requested to lay tho matter before its members and to forward tho result to the federation. Other business of, a routine character was transacted, and , votes of thanks woro ao corded the Otago Master-Printers' Association for originating the federation idea, ant convening the conforonco, and the chairman for presiding.