FAULTY TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 8

FAULTY TARIFF.

AND UNPATRIOTIC IMPORTERS,

INDUSTRIES SUFFER. .Declining manufacture? and possible, methods of improving them were discussed in general review- by the Industrial Association last evening. Mr. S. S. Williams brought forward a proposal that'the Industrial Association should change its name and become a Manufacturers' Association, and he adduced reasons why the change should lie made. He spoke of the shortage of labour, which had reduced manufacturing to a low ebb. Labour was coming into the country, but not in sufficient quantity to make New Zealand a manufacturing coimlrv as it ought to bo. The Government should take action in bringing out to this country skilled artisans as well as unskilled workers. It was time the association was up and doing, but the fact was that there were in the association many who wero solely importers. Wherefore he thought it would be wiser for (lie association to form itself into a manufacturers' association, or for a separate association to be formed.

Mr. J. F. Luke said that ho would be sorry to see the association break out into a manufacturers' association, for the setting up of another organisation would bs to court defeat. The aims of the present association were directly industrial, and in the interests of manufacturers. Perhaps the association had not lately been as active, as it ought to be, but he thought that it had justified its existence by its very fine exhibitions. Because the numbers were few, was no reason why some new life should not be infused into the association. We were importing artisans and then allowing them (o go to Australia, where perhaps greater opportunities were offering. The limitation of apprentices in our industries was bound to have its effect on the framing of artisans. In point of fact, there was very littlo desiro on the part of boys nowadavs to enter shops and learn a trade. In the iron trade boys simply could not be induced to learn any trade except engineering. Boys had said to him: "What's the good of racking our brains to learn a trado when we can do better in the ranks of the unskilled workmen?" Hβ thought this was very regrettable, in a young country where such a large amount of money was being spent on education. The sooner the Government set up a commission to inquire into our industrial affairs, and the effect of.our laws, and the trend of our young men, the better it would be for this country.

Mr. T. Ballinge'r supported Mr. Luke in objecting to altering the name of the association. He said that all tho members of the association save one were manufacturers. He thought our town was not being boomed sufficiently by the newspapers, which seemed to prefer to boom Auckland.

Mr. Williams withdrew his statement that many of the members of the association wero importers merely. Mr. Luke spoke of the need for tariff 'reform. He thought the tariff should be amended to include a provision giving the Minister a discretionary power to impose duties on articles not specified in tho tariff, as soon as it was shown to him that they could manufacture in the country.

Mr. E. Bull comolained that the merchants could not be induced to handle New Zealand products on as low a margin as, 5 per cent, profit, whereas they fremierttly handled large Quantities of imported products for as littlo as 21 per cent. Imports were not patriotic.

The chairman supported the contention that there was need for reform of tho tariff.

It was decided to hold over the question of amendine the namo or the constitution until the association had cot iver its trouble with the Technical School Board.