THE IRON INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1264, 20 October 1911, Page 8

THE IRON INDUSTRY.

MR. CAMERON'S SUGGESTIONS. TARIFF UP TO 15 PER CENT. A long, type-written report by Mr. M. P. Cameron on the condition of the engineering and kindred industries was presented to Parliament yesterday. He .-,iythe evidence he has acquired gees to show that the older-osta bashed engineering works are suffering a decided depression in trade, brought about in several ways. For instance, eight or ten years' ago' the southern foundries were exceedingly busy with orders for dredging machinery. They also exported to Australia iu three Years dredging plant to the value of .£25,231. This, however, lasted only a few years, as New South Wales had in the meantime become part of tho Commonwealth, and having built up foundries under a protectionist tariff of 25 per cent., these exports soon ceased. The Commonwealth is now exporting into New Zealand dredging plant and material which only, carries a 5 per cent. duty. The making cf steam engines and boilers is an industry that is fast passing out. A fact contributing in no small degree to the depression. These are being superseded by suction gas plants, oil and gas engines, and electricity. Stationary oil and gas engines are mostly imported from Great Britain duty free, so New Zealand engineers have net been able to compete in this line, but they have manufactured a large numl>er of first-class oil engines of the marine type, baing able to do this because tho imported American engines carry a 20 per cent, preferential duty. Tlie local manufacturers, however, complain very much about tho inferior quality of the American engines, especially the cheaper class, which they are asked to compete against. They think that Government inspection would bar the use of such engines. -Mr. Cameron advises the Government to encourage this industry to the fullest extent. He quotes figures to show tho importance of the industry, and expresses the opinion if what ho terms "a fair measure of protection wero given, say, to the extent of 30 pet rent, on British and 15 per cent, preferential on foreign, that very soon tho J;92,0(!(l annually sent out of the Dominion would (less tho materials) be all expended amongst New Zealand workmen, and without extra cost to the consumer." Bitter complaint was made that local ■ bodies sent abroad for their requirements even though New Zealand prices are about equal to the imported. He suggests that when Government grants . assistance to local bodies a clause giving preference to. Dominion manufactures should be insisted upon. In bridge and structural work the engineers ask for a higher tariff than 20 per cent. Workmen here got Is. <l!d. per hour, as against 7id. in England, and less still on the Continent. A 30 per cent, and a 15 per cent, preferential foreign duty are asked for the blacksmithing trade, and boilermakers are all complaining of the want oi trade. Many of the foundries have only one' or two blacksmiths' fires going out of from four to seven, and their steam and electric hammers are only occasionally used. Big companies now have their own works in New Zealand. Bcilormaking is languishing. Agricultural implements and machinery manufacturers have the hardest row of ail to hoe, as there is a free tariff against them, and the Commonwealth, under a protective tariff, is able to export to New Zealand. The New Zealand manufacturer, he says, makes a study of Joeal conditions, soil, and requirements, and his implements are copied abroad for manufacture and export to New Zealand. In ten years under this (leading British imports were .£533.51)5, and foreign .£520,635, a total cf .41,155,573. This refers to agricultural Vjachinery and implements. In the same time ploughs and harrows to the value of -C 1,155,575 were imported. Local manufac hirers want a duty of SO per cent, and 15 per cent, preferential. lie, however, advises that reapers and binders should come in free of duty. He says thev have not so far bren manufactured in the !)o. minion, but. in this he surely is in error. The International Harvester Company and (he Massey Harris Company have introduced the very costly "principle of fending out agents to scour the country for orders, which has compelled the local manufacturers in self-defence to do likewise. This has increased the cost to the farmer from 15 to 20 per cent., which, prior to the advent of "the two companies named, was wed to the farmer, as ho used to send his order direct to the New Zealand manufacturer.

As cream separators will net in the : near future to made in New Zealand, 1 they should be admitted free. Milking • machines patented in New Zealand are being imitated abroad, and imported to ' New Zealand duty freo, under-selling the I local article. Protection to the extent of 30 per cent, and 15 per cent, preferential is therefore asked lor. The cooking-rango industry has successfully established itself under the 20 peT cent, tariff, and employed a largo number cf hands, none but American stoves being now imported. Further increases cf duty on these gozds are not being asked for. J ho industry of malleable steel and orucilfe castir-"! was making headway, and is almost the sole support of one'Duncu..i .juuu.v, were me ordinary emginewing trade lias so fallen off that .£II,OOO worth cf machinery was standing idle. The industry should have further promotion, as it has u/> advantage, in freights, the weight of the ran- materia! and' the niamifaonirrvl article being about equal. British malleable castings are landed at 375. id. per cv.-t.. and American at 325. Ed., while the New 7/aland price is 435. A duty of 30 por cent, and 15 per cent, preferential is suggested. Iron shipbuilding has been revived io aconsiderable extent, spc-cialiy in Dunedin, and a; it is an industry oi::plovia» a large amount of labour, protection to The c-xteat of 30 r:r cvp.t. and 15 per cent, or mcio preica'cntial is At pressut s'ear.icrs and their furn;-.!uugs arc freo of duty. Th.> shipbuilding indus'.rv is of great importance to a country like New Zealand, and to encourage it in it? infancy by means of a tariff "is a preposition. Mr. Cameron has been much impressed by the prioress in the manufacturing of locomotives, aad by the good and reliable workmanship which he saw. There I if. no reason why every railway engine [ should not be made in New Zealand. As 1 tho Government was the only user of tie I engines a further duty should not bo ini--1 posed. The chassis of motor-cars is now free of duty, while the body is dutiable at 20 per cent. This was done to as-ist carriage- ■. builders in New Zealand, but had not 1 been taken advantage of, as net a single body had been built in New Zealand for a.n imported chassis. It would be better to declare the cars entirely free or dutiable, nnd in tho later case the manufacture r,f them would won be established in the Dominion. Mr. Cameron notes evidences of falling off in the brass foundry industry, and states that one firm is prepared to "double l its plant and buildings if protection of thirty por cent, and fifteen per cent. ' preferential is granted. The galvanised sheet iron industry requires attention. There is only one maker of corrugated iron in the Dominion, and he only uses one "pot." Ho asks, not for further tariff protection, but that the Government should continue to specify Dominion-made galvanised iron in all contracts. Barbed wire and staple and standard manufacturing would be taken up if there was tariff protection; 3s. per cwt. and Is. 6d. preferential for staples would be sufficient, and 30 per cent, and 15 per cent, preferential for barbed wire. The industry was formerly carried on, but cease! after the removal of the duty. Wire-nail manufacturing would also be restarted if protected by a duty of, say, 3s. and Is. 6d. preferential. Iron bedstead manufacturing is a creditable industry, and is holding its own, but if freights arc reduced it will require protection. In conclusion, Mr. Cameron urges upon the Government the great national importance of assisting in every way possible the development of the iron and steel ore deposits of the Dominion. Upon no account whatever should the Government allow these ores to be exported, but every inducement should be offered to work them within the Dominion, with outside capital if necessary. lie suggests a system of bonuses for that purpose. He considers that imports are the real eauso of the stagnation of the iron industry, e,nd the remedy should bo amendments of the tariff wjthout unduly increasing the cost to the consumer. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, for •Coughs and Colds, never fails, Is,' Gd,