VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 757, 4 March 1910, Page 5

VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE

FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS. . NOT TO BE IMPORTED. A large deputation, consisting of env ployees in tho furniture and furnishings business, and workers belonging to the Furniture. Workers' Union,. was introduced to the Hon. K. MTCenzie (Minister for Public Works) yesterday, by Mr. Herdman, M.P., who stated that its members had come to urge that the furniture and furnishings for the new vice-regal residence should he tendered for within the Dominion.

Mr. Corrigan (manager of the D.1.C.) stated that both employers and employees in the trade had heard with surprise a rumour to the effect J ;hat the Government intended to import all the furniture and furnishings for the Governor's residence. The number of workers in the trade in New Zealand was 300, whilst' it was estimated that in all .£6OOO was" paid in wages by employers in- the line every week in New Zealand. During the last twelve months, the trade had been very slack, and, besides, it was felt that if .the Government did import the goods it would be a very dangerous precedent. They were quite sure that the work could bo quito as satisfactorily performed in the Dominion as at Home; in fact, they could see no justification for any proposal to. import the articles. It had been suggested that the Government would save duty if the goods were imported, but he would like to point out that duty would have to be paid by the. successful tenderers on goods required in the manufacti"? of the articles. It was hoped that the furniture and decorations at the residence would reflect as far as possible the art and handicraft of the Dominion, and not merely be just a faint echo ofpalatial residences at Home. Kegarding this point, he would like to mention that both this and past New Zealand Governments had taken a pride in advertising the beautiful timbers for which the Dominion was famed. - If the articles were imported, 'it would mean that these fine timbers would be tabooed in. favour of cheap English oak. Then again it the work were to be performed within New- Zealand it would give to its: residents an opportunity to display their talent in the matter of designing. There was an erroneous impression. that any-' thing imported was of superior quality, but it was his opinion that in 99 out of every 100 instances, the' local article was the best. This might be explained by the'fact that the best Homo goods wero not sent out to the Dominion owing to the small demand for them. On behalf of the employers he wished to emphasise the large contribution which they had to make every year in the matter of taxation.

. Mr. Moriarfcy, Secretary of the WorkX s i *?P ion ' stated that he now believed that the rumour was circulated by opponents of the present Administration. It had been stated that a man had been selected to go Home to select the necessary'furniture and furnishings which it was believed would total between .£SOOO and SfiOOD. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, had expressed his sympathy with the objects of the depute- • hon. They hoped that they would find that Mr. MTCenzie was just as Btaunch a supporter of labour as Mr. Millar had proved himself to be: They did not' ask that the whole of the' work' should be competed for only by Wellington tradespeople,/but that the right to ten-. der should be open to employers throughout the Dominion. If it turned out • that a Wellington firm did not get the work then it would be : their misfortune. There were among tho workers in the trade in New Zealand men who were capable of turning out just as good work as any that could be imported. In re-. gard to the French polishing it. was | hoped that the work would not; be con-' .triacted for but done by day labour. ■f The Minister said he was sorry thatj the deputation.had taken so much notice of a rumour of the kind. Like some :other'Tumours, however, it had some foundation.. Some, time ago .the.Government* ordered wallpaper from Home for three of the principal rooms. It was thensuggested that other articles for. tho rooms, such as grates, fenders, carpets, mantelpieces, cretonnes, etc., should also be sent for so that they might be in harmony with the wallpapers.' That waa a point in regard to which the Government 'had not yet come to a decision. Altogether there were 70' rooms' in the residence, and the Government intended to, call for tenders in New Zealand for : all the furniture and furnishings except what was required l for the rooms to., which he had alluded. In regard to the French polishing, he. might say that there • was no intention to import polishers, and that the work would be done by day labour. He might add that the suggestion in regard to the furnishings for the three rooms which he had mentioned was that the same people who selected the wallpapers should be requested to pick the other articles. In all the goods which it was proposed to import would hot cost more than i! 500 or ,£6OO, which was only a small item out of the whole amount which would require to be expended in that direction. "I may tell you candidly," Mr. .M'Kenzie added, "that. tenders for the articles ' will bo called in the four chief centres in order to place all parts of the Dominion on the same footing."