CARRIAGE BUILDERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1707, 26 March 1913, Page 5

CARRIAGE BUILDERS.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORMED. A conference of delegates-' from master carriage-builders and wheelwrights', associations in ivew Zealand was opened'in tile Town Hall yesteruay.. Mr. J. U'. Bray Sliaw (of 'laranaJci) presided. The delegates present were: Messrs. J. Glover (iiougotea), Geo.. Dash- (Waimate); H; HurrellKPetoiie), E. James and C. Holdaifty (Blenheim), Brennan (Wanganui), E. Crawley, E. Black, J. House, W. 6. fitchett, T. JP. Lyons, G. Itidlev, and A. Bl4clt (Wellington), G. Hurrelf (Hawcra), J?. Spurdle (Inglewood), George Morrison (Toko), N. Johnston (Bamicvirke), John b'arnson .(Cambridge), C. Graham (Gisborne), T. Wagg and J. Leigli (Mastertonj, E. It. I)odge (Hastings), H. Bate (Napier), J. Turnbull (laihape), W. H. Booth (Waipukurau), J. Baucke (Pahiatua), H. B. Home (Woodvillp), 11. Childs (Stratford),, and E. C. Harvio (Dunedin). The chairman outlined the v movement Which had led to the calling of the meeting, and called on Mr. Childs, president of the Taranaki Association, to move the following motion: "That this Conference of .Master, Carriage Builders and Wiieelwnights form themselves into an association to be known as 'The Carriage Builders, Wheelwrights, ami Motor Car Builders National Associatibn of New Zealand.'"

'i'iia motion was carried ■unanimously after discussion. • At the atternoon session, the chairman read letters' and telegrams conveying good wishes and greeting from provincial associations of coach-builders and ,wlieerwrights. • / The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. Dj M'Laren) was received by. the conference shortly after resuming, and he welcomed tho delegates to tlio, city. Ho assured them that he felt verjr greatly the honour dono him' in asking him to speak to tho conference, particularly as tho delegates were associated with employers' interests, and ho had always been associated with the interests" of tJi& workers. But there was ono interest common ..to all classes— tp conserve and protect and ioster the industries of our country. He thought that although .something had been done lor the primary industries of iNew Zealand, though, perhaps, not enough even lor those, we had been supine and weal; in .our indifference concerning the uthei industries. This v. as 1 an age of organisation. it was lutii-e lor ,'aiiy inuividual any . longer to hope to work alone, am. no 'was giad to karn that the Coach uuiluors' Association had been lurmed, not on a local, but on a national basis, ii'e hoped tile association would not rtpresent oniy a section ,of those in the trade, but would be able to speak lor all ii. itiie trade. If all .were not already in membership, his advice to tliem would be to ooiuo .into the organisation at once, lie wished the. delegates a iiappy time in the city of Wellington, and lie hoped that the org nisation would prosper and grow in strength, and that it would be a useful agency in fostering the industries of the country, for the prosperity of industries generally would bo for the good of the whole community.

: . Jl'r. George-Dash, of Waimate, acknowledged, 011 behalf of tlio delegates, the compliment done to .'the trade by the 'Mayor v in. coming to . welcome them all. lie. assured 1 the Mayor that liteir aim was to discuss'methods of organisation of business, in order, not that they might reduce wages, but that, they might be able to give such increased wages lo employees as would be required from time lo time without in turn 'having. so to squeeze the public as to limit' tlie'possibility of their travelling ill .comfortablo vehicles. The iiiembei's of the conference had confidcner in their country,' and/were ambitious for the fjitiiM of their industry in New /.ea,'land. ' ' : The .conference then went on to consider anil frame a constitution and rules 'or their association. The visitors will be entertained at a •nniplinientary dinner by the AVellingtoi; Master Coach Builders at the. Tiffin restaurant on Thursday evening, at 8 p.m.