DEPRESSED ENGINEERING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 830, 31 May 1910, Page 6

DEPRESSED ENGINEERING TRADE.

— » : ' .. APPEAL TO; THE MDJISTEB,.' , (By TeleeiaDh—Press AssociationJ 1 Dunedin, May 30. A, deputation,' representing engineers and iron founder's, waited upon the Hon. J. A. Millar to-'day chiefly with regard to the duty on parts of dredging machinMr. Gillies said that the trade was stagnant at present, and no firm was employing more than 50 per cent, of men it employed a few. years ago. They would like him to bring the subject under notice of his colleague, who was in charge of tho. proper Department. The existing state of things .was very bad for trade. They had men knocking l about town, and their machinery was standing idle, rhere were other matters also in which they thought Mr. Millar (as Minister of Hallways) might do. much. One of these was in connection with the letting of Government Kaiivray contracts. They thought, in reference to. this matter, that there should be a stipulation that anything that could be manufactured in the Dominion should be so manufactured.' The speaker went on to make special reference to the importation of manganese pin l ! and urged'that facilities should be afforded so that local manufacturers might participate in Government railway contracts. ' . Mr Millar said that as to the second point, he was not aware that the Government got anything at all from the Old. Country, because, as they knew, the tioverninent manufactured pretty well on its own account. Instructions had been given to the Department .that nothing should be sent for out'of the country that could bo made in it:' .With the exception of boiler flanges, he did not know of anything for the Eaihvay Department thai was manufactured oversea.. Of course, tenders for supplies were always included ir. the Public Works schedule. If there was anything coming, in from out side it would soon be put a stop to, and if the, deputation supplied him with a Ist of things that couUi be manufactured here he would'■ give them h>s attention.