INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1559, 1 October 1912, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Tlie annual meeting of (he Wellington Provincial Industrial Association was held last evening, Mr. S. S. Williams presiding. There was an attendance of 20 odd members. In presenting the seventeenth annual report and balance-sheet of tho association tlie General Committee regretted that the association's finances for the year under review compared unfavourably with previous years, this being due to, the dispute between the association and the Technical School with regard to tho rent of the Industrial Hall and officers in tho Technical School building in Victoria Street. Tho sum involved, and which iit previous years had been paid, was .£IOO. With regard to this dispute, tho committee was hopeful that a satisfactory arrangement might yet be arrived at. Tho sum of XT-On, part of tlto surplus from the Coronation Ntw Zealand Industrial Exhibition pi' 1911, was placed on fixed deposit for twelve mouths, at -1 per cent. Nothing definite, the conrtiiit.tee reported, could as yet be staled with regard to the negotiations instituted for tho aeciuisilion of an area of land for i'uttiro exhibition purposes. Apropos of the appointment of the Hon. T. Mackenzie to succeed Kir Win. Ilnll•Tones as High Commissioner for New ZeaInud in London, the commitce remarked that New Zoalanders who had visited England had freely stated that New Zealand manufacturers were by no means well advertiseJ there, and noted that the new High Commissioner intended to do all in his power to improve matters in that direction. Canada, Australia,' and other Dominions completely outshone New Zealand in displaying to intending emigrants the extent of their manufactures. Australia was pursuing an active immigration policy, and attracting thousands annually to her shores, while many who came to New Zealand from tho Old Land were soon tempted to leave this Dominion and settle in Australia.

The Commissioner, commenting upon a recent statement by the Hon. i\ M. B. Fisher (Minister for Customs) that the Government did not desire to deal with the rjuostion of tariff revision during the present session of Parliament, pressed the necessity for some revision, if industries were to go forward, not backward. Detailed statistics of the progress and condition of various industries in New Zealand, compiled from the census returns of 1911, were quoted in support of this contention.

"It is a matter of regret," concluded the Committee, "that . the membership of the association has suffered through the resignation of a few members during the year; This, has, however, been found to be the case immediately after former exhibitions have been held, a sort of reaction, but tiioso who have not the interest of our industries as a whole at heart, are not satisfactory members. Each member of the association is appealed to, to endeavour to secure at least one new men> ber during the comjng year."

Tho balancc-shei't disclosed an excess of expenditure over income of £na 10s. Bd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The officers for the ensuing year were then elected, as follow:—President, Mr. L. E. Partridge (re-elected); vice-pres-ideuts, Messrs. S_. S. Williams (re-elected), and C. B. Norwood; General Committee, Messrs. T. Ballinger, I'. C. Crease; I'. ,T. Evans, Alisler Drown, W. J. Thompson, D. Eobertsou, L. T. Watkins, 11. Keade, M. Manthcl, H. Toombs. 1!. G. Denton, A. Blnnton, (1. M'Arthur, ft. Campbell, J. P. Lulce. E. Bull, \V. Cable. \V. M'Lay, IV. Crnbtree, C. Palliser, M. Martin, t.ho President of tho Wellington Builders and Contractors' Association (for the timo being), G. Norton, and A. W. Newton. Tho name of Mr. A. Marryatt (a life member) was added to the General Committee, oxotlicio. Mr. R. J. Ilardie-Shaw was reelectetl treasurer, and Clark and Biss. re-appointed auditors. A special committee, consisting of Messrs. L. R. Partridge (president), T. Ballinger, E. Bull, C. 11. Norwood, and the secretary fMr. F. Allen) was appointed_to confer with a similar committee appointed _by tho Wellington Education Board with regard to the dispute concerning the vent of lite Industrial Hall and oflice in the Technical School building in Victoria Street.

It was resolved to alter the date of the monthly meetings of the Executive Comniitloe (at: present hold on the second Tuesday of each month) to Ihe second Thursday in the month. Matters to bo discussed at the lirst meeting (October Ift) will be concerned « ith the Imperial Trade Commission.