IRON INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 926, 20 September 1910, Page 6

IRON INDUSTRY.

;{ r :f;,h'. ;:V^';;"''-/';";,'^''.--'V; ; "-y,!.'; v '.;;';' : ' ■/ / :^ :;;::'!^ ; ''.-\ : ;yMPUT^'ION/t6Kfr(E':RBIME ; :'/. ;..;;/:/;>'. '/MINISTER. ;]. ; ;:','/;/;•' : t& ,' : ; i; OF THETABIFFiV- /,-:/. r : 'A .representative .of ':/'• ithe .employers, and employees ,in the iron //v.vv^WustTy'.to ;"/•/':.: ;baponv;the : ' : Pnmp.;piihister yesterday. ;to ';.//'. :'ibrihg: under-notice, the stato"into',which : , :',-•'.. "'■ 'has : fallen,"/,and.'; to suggest. ;::■.'-/. Bean's ' of/.remedying', the present condi- ; tibn';:of,'affairs;;„. : :.';"",:'.;,<;.. /:'."':/• ; -;..-'•,; • •. ; : i;.. '■', Mr>D. : Jl'Laren,,/M.P.i..,who; introduced .'ii:'. ithe the; gathering ropre-' //:,'* ,/{scnte^' 7 the X.employers"and' t ompioyees;;of 1 1/'-- ; ittieirbn'and^shipbuilding!tradesthrough- /;,-,'}'. : p out/the;Dominibn??The state of the iron ">:;/. '•,,;; -trade /was-'such ;Uiat!;spino:ot,,the:-:bcst ,"?;,'?/'•' Imen/were, leaving-Ne,w;'Zealand. / Accord'to ; v:,/ -; ,;-a?drbp of over;4ooovnien'eniployed,in;.the' / engineering,'!, stbye-makihg, "'\ and'," "range;'|:;v:;.:: last,year.; ': ~./A ■:.' >of /employees. in'';manufa'cturing 'industries; /i':;" '■' ihad dropped from 1959 in the:jears;lß96- : :.■','' ; ; 1033-'from",l9o6-IO.V ;Mr.' MTaren '/.:/':.•,' JTrenton.to pbint:to the.necessity-of'-h?.y : .. £• !/"?'/ |ing-/allvgoods .which-'could/be/madb/in, /::'■;;,/•, jNow/ Zealand.made : -here, and .urged that v' ■' '■'' Jocal-bbdies- should, ,spend::their, money... in ■ '.:/ :'. :; "■■■sfew;y Zealand^'.-is.-The'. Government ./should ■; /Xv.r.'., ."bring (pressure, to '.bear'tin-the direction of: ■■'i'.C;'?^.-'''arevendhß:-16cal',b6dies/'Boing^butside..;fqr i .:';'/,;./ Bnachinery.ietc'.',;'. which i,could be .manu- //.';". ': jfactured .in "New: Zealand.-.' :.;.Ther6''.were,. /'/'j ; .janoihalies in,' the tariff which should also , ■ J; - //v 5e ';dealt 'with;:-.'- Lasti year ■■•:New,. Zealand /;///;;■ ■ oil.'.'engines '•/."-.; .- in-New Zear -• : i"V''^.V-'«np%V!nrid , .a , .;lßrßV , -''qudntiiy.; of'material: ■'. t';'!-. -foribridgelconstruction'.had.'also'been im:'i// ■ : ". 'ported;,not:only.:from;. England, .-but, from - i/f':./';:; othpr/'places^';.;;':l'vS/^;-;i;/ : .:};/;};';.i;::A ; \/.0'.; ?-'v/ : ?,' : > ''0t Follow ■'■•riV-V'-'V.-'-M^^^^^ ■i', ■'■ ','':., the /.pioneering fdays '. of -.the, 'dredging; in/•t,-,:: '■'.• du'stryc- in-! Australia,"'pointed out;that;nofc.V&ttr. ■,'■ /■&';'* Zealand for-machinery' for .tho'. Common-. ;'/ ■ ///?'- :;: : : .'■:/;!' /!: a tariff \of 33, Ifl: per. cent-had /been: i-05- - imposed! by "the, Commonvrealth Govern-, •'/merit.-'v:He was-'of:bpinibii;that' New/, Zea-; if.': : '.'t'.'.^;3arid-might, takii7-«.'.-leaf'.',6ut'..'bf';th*i./Auß-';K"J'■■'!■■ ■'iralian"book, ; -and,.set:;about .protecting, '0K : Sz New/Zealand ;:.;.•:' :i - outside, machinery : j'vS:' '.'and'wbrkers, were .standing idle; 'He/went' ife ,-!/-ion. r tb!::qubte;iihstances -Neir; Zea- /";;: /•.''': land borders''hW'gone/.to'/ontsideobmpeti-: bcenj'dpne'; ::;--:; 7 'just-as'weil •hefe:/ r There'/were,,sis...larg6i /:::.':';■:: foundries-.iri: Du'nediri,'/,.but, ; fbr'.a ; :great, /^;/K;'vpart;:of ■jfoe- 'year?three /partsi of ■;their; :';:-/:,-: :.;,;/:':/:!they : were:'kept : goihg:thb/whole year/in-:, '■'??+ ■':■' : other''7oo-or 800 men; could-be'- employed./ ■^'r.';;.:' I ''. i-'Tepreseriting;: ; :the - \;-" '/s/zemplbyers,'/'remarked'.': on'-;.,tlie'.-'-'number .-ibf:' ':-';-'.';-;V;'.-^ W'-'i'-'i: cause; of the iack/bf/ivbrk at; their, trade: V:/ 1 -:f -.-.--Mr/'-'FaU, 'represeiting/the .Ota'g'6''and ;>/. : v, f''.iSouthlahd/bpilermakers,; saiditrade' had; />:•';-:;:: been 'very/ slack' ; as':;th'ere; .w'as;,not! enough; &-B- bbilermakers'' gbirig:;/ -When S?/:/!i'h'eihad; gone 'to :' : !'.'.:- : ; ;casionl'he 1 had [ found'that;:a m'arried.nian'' '>.?•/■;;:,with,a;; earned-15s.;in ;/;/:/;^:s'aVfor'tiught; v ';/'!/^;;/i':/!:;/;K /#'// ?,0i : K>l,mportirig';.Material!and :?•':!: :''!-V : : i'Th© iDunedih'J,ga'sholder//had'\ been'! imi; /:.:>' ; : ported;';'and"'Apt' I ;onlyithis/'but/.thej'men: :ii.Z '■■■. / "been/'i.mportedj/ahd-.New//Zea-' k/z' '/-"".landjlwbrkers: /had'/.been'.'told they-needj _/'J;./;; \t not/apply."; .He' ".Vv'r /'/p'rbve'ZthatVthe'.Tvorkr'serit ■'. out/'of .//New; !!:/' ;^i i ■ ''-Zealand :could! ! be/db;ie:;here;; "If the -Gby-: ''I'f-' : :'< '/.'errimeht :wbuld';:bnlyj,feupport;::;the:,'w,'orks;; //;'&/ ' : ihatters' ;/:V; ;- ,' trade : : wbulbV:!iei:dor!jn ; i:; "Mr. :Thbmpsbn,;representative /'of ..the! y*:: z'/'/mouldefs /bf/DunediniiZ said^Katf!bn;: ; ) the /!i/'iii/ ; average !;therewre!abbut,!so/riibuWers/but, i/l!.. /• of'work-every;-yeir; I :.They.':took:vj.outside,' ;■!/';:/:: wbrk,;soch.;as;;driving/carfsj'::etc;;;'■:and: '-•*'/.;■ 'J / would not, : ; leave i/these'; 'jobs';; to ■'.' take :• (up • :; ■';• f Z't/.'Gbvernment.'was I ;.money..', to? /7o;/:;/ : lofcal;bp61ies,i-it ; shouldi,insist:bn?:it,-,being: ; : j ' .ZepehtfiivNewiZealahdi'viWheii''.the-Gov-, r!i<M r :'- erhmenff: enteredvintb/;the;+tariff preform; ?; S::'l!-; ';questibn,;./he/'; thought:/ agricultural// ma--0 '■•/-:■. Zchihes ; .laid;, 'parts; 1 : how./ imported-",;: free,; ;;!v.\//'should --'pay,-;Sddty; : ;>y-.Ti'eiii\agHbultaHst; /<//;:■;' had-- been/ spoon-fed;; 'long/; 'enough,// and! % j rS/. ■'■: would:;. not-,- suffer- /as' the." result-iof :■','•; »> >■:&s'; tariff;;/';Castings! ;H-;,!W!: bootmakers iwere:alsb.SallowedZjin t rfree;: /.;■>,;'/..-,and/if these and-other .thing's.were;made rjt'A: New! Zealand it..would.result in, a''large' f !j. Z'V - "number.; of v/'rl'S /'.would-.attract i i ( :7/; the 1/0, to !thisY,!'countTy. : : ;:N«m: Z; : ' '■<■■: /'..Zealand/would /populate Titeelf, and'there ://:yvy!wbuld/!be : . S;//v■;■.''.Government-would-Zbe-able,':tb, ; do' sbme- / y (.i/V (thing, in ;;'^ ; 'v'^'A'':'^M^«<fls^ W:'i':! -.'-.-i- Mr- • Anderson; (Christchurch) / remarked Wo:. * on-;the '/struggling-effbrttmadej-; in -• ; :New" i;3: ! i: ; iZealand-;to/vproduce :'bU:''engines.;;--There :/;/;(/;;:;:;was/noZduty/ori, pil;;ehgines;:-which!:cbm- ";'-•::; engine'/ ':v7zV.:;hbiler;. ; in:!whichZthereZwas/a:duty/;zIf; a was/placed !ph:'oil..engiries/;it' : would: !i-yi'yz:provide:a;great::amburit'ibf::work::in'::New-A/;';/!: :cbedg*,Zetc(;;;was.,alsbZtbuched: upon.: ZA; A/if: ///'Priestman .dredge7fbrZ-Lytteltbrizreceritly. ':;;/ : z/:;/came!;in-vffee.9;n/the,(parts :hadzi/been ;-;: :.y. ; brOught/in; -;they, would (have/paid-duty.- "£■:.'.' '■?:' .If ..the ,'duty had-.been (enforced,; the. work ;v wpuldvneyerZhave.;gone!,but of'News'Zea-' .:/=//(; ZUna;;;The;,same}:thihK,v^ppUed;;'(tb(( : the; ;CZ(:-^(•7smal^:Steamers^.c'lf:';''tne;;zship:; , ■ complete :■;(('.,!'( could.;be; put'..'in.;the.''same::.ppsition ; ' - ':as'' ;!:/;( '.'.her/Zcompbrient. (parts, /a/great'. deal '< -oi :( : ::-... : ;'.!employment;co:uld!!be','given ; to, New'Zea-' (:■.';;-..•/,: land.[workers. .The/engineering;trade had ,'t./',v.j- "beenZin- a (very:, bad-state' ; for. -some'time ;/''./ /Z:;/;'',";;;, ;"ZrZ"'"z.H;':tv-':|.'-(' -v ; ?'- : - : '. : -'! ; 'i' '■.-V-' -V.-A'" ;: . ' r . P est i'l'.NYorkers •_ (' Le.av i rig. //■ ■(. -V /: ■;/(;•;; (/; Mt':|"(W.. ? G::- Evans,'.(sectetary'';!bf K'the v/.Z: .'Amdijaniated.^o'cietyf-bf,Engineers,Z'-sai'd' :///: ; his ;spciei7bad,(7oo/:menibers.:zin/:!New,: :.'-.:-.:, .Zealaiid. Xlt-Z'would. '.have', considerably \(z '/more"but ft)r:the'sad"stato of the':trade.' //.;:.'. to (theZ-'/excellbnt ,■.:.'..';.-spirit: -/the ''employers ,;/;., < and' employees - in-.the-jtrade.::-An' 'cnor- - .;;.;. :• mous: amount of- /.out-of-workers' ;• berieflt- :;.:-.:■: '.payments:had/been made/by.;theZso'ciety' •.■:.:■.:; ,'•■; of late..years...'.-.Eye'ry;' boat'leaving":,for / /-.//'Australia/tbokiaway/some:'of /the' best •-.-:.," workers, who .were'..going to the Comnioni /:. ;, wealth,or,South/Africa,, ,It was rib good H;:- /(/ the': Government:-/assisting '..workers unless !/:!Z('/;zit-enMurtged(the:-industries'to:which-t.he : //>;/;;'/workers were;(erigaged/:/'( /i•':■■./(".'//•.-■ ://.''':■ ;; Z ;!.;.; ;!((;.;; r i'/A Deplbrablo Staie of; Affairs!'-/;'; (" V/': Z(; ■;., 0; Mt;'Z W;'::Crabt'ree : ;! said" the:, tra'deZvwas f. ;■■-'.•. v.;.: m: a. very bad .-condition. .'• The '• Govemt, - .■"■ v. ment. had: legislated; for 1 the .worker -and !./:/ .-raised.wo«;es,;;but there (was (no possible [;,/,;,. way for; 'the/employers.to. get the money ,Z..:/,, ~'.out: - of.the-work.Z..The-.wages^were":the :/: •/; '/-same, in America,' ::but there they /had- a' ;./ ; ,50..per...cent. ..tariff.''•.'■ It.,was :impossible [,; ,"•. 'for;,the.;employers; to, work .against-the j/'.v; /present/tariff:-here...-He(thought somei.'/.(•: • ™ n S ; should, bedone to. alter the. present :.'■/ -..;;' deplorable.state/of affairs,.in' which': we |(,::";Z'found: our best /people leaving us/-, The S:,.'/ employers wanted.something- that would j;,/-....-(.V.-enabk..thenii Ztp", pay,: theZ.w'agesZof 'the !.;;'./;/ .zmcn.arid keep (the .-shops l going. - ";''■■• :.;;;- •; /Z:Mr.zMassey/(Auckland) 'said:/they,'; in : :.:.:':/ common .with, oth<Sr parts; of New ; Zeiv ;-.':. 'land, were "iu/sa-. very bad way with re- ;:/-(■■ -fard to .the'/engineeringZtrade.:ZHe''■!». .'.':.::.ferred'tb/Several-'krie-.wdrks'which had . .gone outside'of/New •. Zealand;' although ~..-/ .-the margin between the. cost in Now. Zea- //■,'. landand 'abroad/was nbt./in' some bases ;/;.;.. at; least,- very/great.;; .;.;; !•/ ~•'.Ehc|ouraae: S pecialising.,. ; '.; ■■•'ifr. : Phillips, roprWcnting the'employers ;';':.. . of Auckland, referred- • to /certain im- :.(■-; /-(pdrtations.made'by' the Auckland 'Har- ■:':: hour Board .of .things which could have ■-.-■'. '.-been-manufactured in' New; Zealand:-The' :; :,V ironmasters in New Zealand' were not .-■ encouraged sufficiently.to cause them to .. ■ ... go' in ;for plants! for-specialising.'. The' ■•/■(■■'. ".local bodies gave: no support. to the iron- '.".'.' ..masters. He'thought the Government • : might - give the •; industry a. little more. ..,;. '.protection. ■-;■ .' : -; '■■<■ ■ ',■■-■; , ; Mr. (Riddell, -(Christchurch), referring', -to tho previous' movement in opposition ■ ', to the International 'Harvester. Trust,, :.'.'■' said that, where 140. men.had been ;«m- ---'. ployed.. at( the time the representations; / ,'. .were/made, there/were only 80 now. .The: 'position, was becoming worso every, year; ~' ' men were leaving New Zealand; and were, Z ~ taking up other. work,.:tmd he l did not. :■■■ ' .■'■ know what was .to be done. . Everything' ,•.';.- tried, and..this .year was 'going fbe as. bad. js last year, Tho' Trust

had/had a'-'niarked effect since ic got a hold 'in New Zealand. Tito Government was'-makingf the. most important boiler:erids( at/the (Addingtori. Workshops, and yet-'it imp'Orfed less/important' ends. The case of the-Duhedin gas-holder, was not unique...: In Christchuroh a gns-holder had :,also , been imported,' ;together- with -the;meir to CTeet it,'the. result being that local;'men-'were '■ walking the streets. ; Sir Joseph;. Have you'made any. representations to' the Gas Company? -Mr. Eiddelh. No: ;: ; "'!; . .'/Sir; Joseph: (You-, should have made representations' toi them before you came to thb Government.'.. .■'(■, '■-.'.',.'PR(ME. ; MINISTER'S REPLY. ■ iThe'Prihie'Minister,; in his reply,-said he was glad to; find in an important matter such' as this, there was. that mutual co-operation between the/employers and the,'/employees.!., iWhere.;, there was: no diversity,/of "opinion; -it'-demonstrated clearly .:that ; '. the ■' engineering' industry was hot as vigorous as. we/stiould' like to/see/it.Z-Z-He was:anxious to,.'see the industries of ~tho'. Dominion•;■ prosper, and to see the .workers dependent on. them ■fully..employed. ' The -.'more successful .the industries' and, the Employers, were the bettor.far the c'ountry: (Hear, hear). The' direction in which -protection should bb given/required : to.hei.very, cavefully .considered. While-, willing to go : a cer- ' tain distance/ ,a large section of. the representatives; of'the -people ..'. in -Parliament -.would, not .go.so' far as' the, city, and. town representatives/urged.;: In- dealing with this difficult matter the Government 'had .to >r,ealise the':(circumstances and 'consider, what/the'/people : in• the. country, outside. of the;towns,, were .pre-, pared to do'in-the "matter of helping the important industries which must ,be 'protected;.((( \(/;Z ,-. ■/•'; ;'./'■' .';■ v.''/;,'- ''(,■://!:(; Some', Protection (Necessary. .;-;. ■■.;■ ■ : <"Iff ; was : quite' clear, that if 'we wanted bur engineers -New.Zealand born we must recognise;: that/we- must-give/ii' certain'•, amount :'bf/protection:. and- we' inrist '■'. find (out how/the iron : industry ..could be, helped' l .without bringiDginto activity 'the 1 oppositioiij'of- the/country people' • He'thought :the ! people.of f the (country. would .be (pre/pMcd'.tO'help/ih;:re'asote,inHhb ■'toatter.'of '■: the,readjustment of; ! the. : .:tariff./-(Ho; did : riot/believe, anything .-..'could be. done" to I'.remedy.(some of the special cases referred : tb:'-There:.was/ is,'- duty "of:,2o '. :per cent against: British-made: gasholders,- and■■3o.' ; per/ cent against foreign(gasholders. /The 'Government/-('had had'; a '.tremendousamount of' difficulty in getting/a/ 20. per cent/duty.', on'British-'boilers; ; and;a 30 ; ;r«r-. Oeht- ; duty-oh ;foreign : boilers;:- For, political' .purposes a'great" amohnt; of criticism. Lad'-been: levelled against .this; movement in'orde' : tociihjure:the.'party .that put on( the/duty: :■• Any 'alteration 'ofthe tariff 'required to/.be; jone: about in: ii::practical.way. ; ' He-thought' the-repre : ' 'sentativee.of;th*'industry,could -with:ad-' vantage, appoint ■ tffo.'. orZthree /of ~their ■number.', to .go' 'through''J the 'tariff■'-,." and point out;where' they-consider thei'industiy... could be;'most .helped :by a 'recasting of;such, portions 'as affected special, in-; rdustries. ■; He;: did;; not-see „why': a /duty, .should.;hot I ''.:be.~;put/'against'; such- items' 'Vithbut.'.actmg'';to. the'detriment.: of-the people.^ I .v.Theireal tariff.; required ;tof'h-ilp •iiidustries'.sucK.HS; the- one. under, notice, (wasZbrie/that would, admit raw .-material Z 'which/ could,' not: bo/.pr'bvided: in: the 1 Do-. '.minion; /a'nd/ipatented ./Earts, .while' im-' :posih'g;a".duiy.;against;'those parts, which: cbuld.-bo/'iriariufactured: (in; . New ; (Zea-. .requirement; ' was 'the; • the:. competirig ,'nianuf acturers, V; to' prevent 'combines/and (trusts,'ro: as ■to assure the , people.-, of/New; Zealand'f'getting their -articles"fat;a; fair.;pTice.;(on.,;this(.basis: he' . oustment.■ of vtherfafiff.;:;';,;■ "I: want,' you men /'with■•;your'/'• practical./. knowledge," 1 said:.'Sir;'Josephi'f"tq sit':down and'mako;sugge3tibri's,.;recbgnisiigi,'a't (the .same: time that (there/are''certain:thirigs the .Govern-.; ment''- i canhbt : .'Sdb'.":::. , ! Svere/made-iph'-.these lines,-the. Govern-'; merit .would/consider, them.,.,;'. :,/( ;;;.i;^he'Gov^ntr|ent' ; as Purchaser.; / ;-". Some, people blamedithe .'Government , for .everything, : eontihned Sir Joseph,; but he.could/tell "them Government did : '(an'; .'amount ■>of: 'Zgobd,' •''al-. though'', it/, did/ not i'boast',. about it.-; He! ' objected;'to /.the,'statement that the' Gov-. ernirient'/was': n'ot' v doihg , ''alFitf il bould; in': ;they: matter; .'of;,' assisting;;;.th'e: :■ ihanufac-; 'tire (of 'articles-used for : Goyernment purposes :.in;tnis.country..'..They were;' ; .doihg, all that they; could;.db ;in this/.direction".. He - did not, /'know; that'there: were,';'but, ..there; might .be; some-; things;, from' a'rail-,' '.way! standpoint.which I .had ;to,.be; gotout^ : 'side'-the'.couhtryi but- wherever, possible' thte'' L : Gbvfernment ■' went i for :; everything, being,■ nianufacturedi,,- /locally. ..//Whero' thereyZwasV;a'/;patent/rigM'-over ..reguire'.mehts,"'of; course, they .had/to': be: secured. outside '..New;: Zealand;.;':' ;Speaking, ;, gener-; 'ally,'.' however//the .^Government./adopted-:the'-/poHcy;.-thTOUgliout:.of'having: every-. ■ ;thihg_ •' manufactured -.'.;;in::'New :. Zealand.'; 'Fbr' i ihstiince, > ;te'nders',for,..the : new'ste^m- ; er./for;. Lake: Bad /bben/received , "rbiit -■. {ho:':/-.work/ha4Vbeen .'kßpt'Un; : ,:New', ; ;)^land.'.V.v;.^ere'yfir l ;-'posr. siblej/zhe' would/Uke-'to/see - local'bodies .use./loeaU articles; "and/help'; local; indus-" try'/' and,: speaking; 'generally,' -~ he -thought , .they J ! ~conld'/nbt,:bo: forced;t'b/dp' ; .'this,, but -he thbught:/th'e'y, i ;snould.;.'cbkiperat6-. with; the Governm(mt', l :ai):d':shqti]d distribute-money, • locally.;raised;''am'bDgst ;: local/industries. At.-the'local; '.Body /-elections-'candidaLtes could : be'-asked;. to /pledge'ithemselves/.not \ to go -outsideithe country/for their work'. "We: should manufacture ; bur / own; goods, , in';/,our./own/pountry,' s and; by,-our own 'meni'';;/: : .-;:/.: : /.r, '/ : -/- : /,,.// .;:;:.'':'.'■: ■/.,.', No; Tariff Revision:THis, Session./ , ; •'■' Mr; D. •' Eobertson 1 . said - the', deputation would /take /steps'. to' get, ; , thp;. information. the :"Pfemier, : : had /suggested,: on ■','■ condition ■that/Sir Joseph would: say./he ;ivas ;gping, ■tfl'-revise/the''.tafiff'''and; ! give'some -relief.-, ; V: Sir Josepli,indicated that be was quite' prepared'to/go /into the' \ tariff ; ih. order" to.'i.helpi'iimportaht.-'industries' /and. the 'country', generallyj: ■ but" ,;he .could/ '.6ay •■ frankly:: that '.it : >ould. .not ;..be .possible to adjust.'/ithe:'; tariff..' this. : session. : He wanted; to/make, that:perfectly :clear.':'lt. was,,-a: veryi ,big ; , {undertaking,;.and .one 'item; could/not: be; brought .down without opening: 'up/.,the;;whble'^'question.',./-If.'the. information/was ".furnished" it .would, .be ' fully.considered fromAevery. aspect,'with, a -new; to an .adjustment, of,,the, tariff/'j, Mr ./Robertson:V. "All;'right. : ; We will: get It ready for^heit'session."' /'/..../ :i-: TO/ CO NTIN UJE. ITH %; M OVEM.ENT. / .;:i. 5 /ACTION-;;:BT; lEONMASTEESJ /■ ■:'• : '."As"*a /result-/of',' the .interview/ which took place between, the/'New-ZealanoVlron-masters!- Associatibn„.and the Prime Mih-' ister, yesterday" a i special ''meeting r oi; the 'association was; heldin'the' afternoon.. It was decided to adopt' l , the-Prime Minister's suggestion that.-the'.; association ' should forward/to .the .Government aMist of the anomalies, in.the Customs-tariff which it proposes, should bo remedied. With this object in/ view, : it, was/agreed; that committees should, be-; aippointed .in the' var- ' ions/centres tb'.consider various matters. A further meeting, which will be attended by" a representative, of the employers : and the employees in each centre; is to be 'held, in' Wellington, on .November .16.,.