WAR & INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2256, 16 September 1914, Page 3

WAR & INDUSTRY

KEEP THE WHEELS WHIRLING ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS Mr. C. B. Norwood (president) occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Asociation last evening. The secretary (Mr. H. F. Allon) read a lengthy annual report dealing with many aspects of our industrial life (which is dealt with elsewhere in this issue). The statement of finances for the year showed a credit balance of £32 9s. Bd. The accumulated funds of the association now amount to £1304 9s. 6d;

In moving tho adoption of the report the president said that it would be seen that the association was living well within, its means. Witlwregard to tho war he said there were two points he would like to emphasise in regard to the power of Great Britain. These were: (1) thereat advantage of having an island houie, and.(2) the special advantago in having a powerful Navy.' New Zealand had not been uiiaffected by tho war. It ■was'true that there had been no panic, but the wheels of commerce h: not been revolving as freely as they did formerly. He wished to point out that it was the possession of an allpoworful Navy that had given them tho freedom of the seas, and had cleared the track for the safe transit of their, products. 'New Zealand, had had a bountiful season—one of the best on record—and now that the ocean routes were quite clear, and we could send our produce Home, where was New Zealand to suffer? Thanks to the splendid strength of the Mother Country thoy were now a month into the greatest war ever knokn. and lveie affected very little. If, however, they were not very careful there would be and they must husband their resources. When tho export figures were published he thought they would bo even /greater than last year. But members must feel it a duty to guard against anything ju the nature of sensation or panic, as such might bo a great disadvantage to the country

Mr. L. H. Partridge, who seconded the motion, said it was the duty of the manufacturers to press this matter home, and they should' see that th public took no alarm. If they- could allay that feeling, ho was sure that they could oany on as they had been carrying on, and if they were able to do that, the public would spend its money as freely as ever. Thero was ho reason why the commerce of tho country not go on as freely as over, and they must see that the men were . kept in work as long as it was possible to do so. He had riot found it necessary yet to discharge a man. Two had gone off to 6ervo their country and his firm was. not- perhaps as busy as he .would like. He was dealing, too, in. luxuries, but still had been ablo to keep his men on. If employers put men oif it was going to come back on them in the long-run. The money was here—it was only locked up-7-and it was not going out of the country. (Applause.) - Mr. I. Ballinger stated that the expenditure of the association exceeded the income, and an effort should bo mado to .inoroase tho membership in order to have an income that was equal to the oxpeuditure. He : thought that Parliament was' making a blunder in stepping the exportation of certain ,of our produce lines. The Chamber of Commerce had asked Mr. Massoy to lift the'embargo placed on the export of 'wheat, but the reply of tho Minister of Customs was that the time was not opportune. The Chamber of Commerce whs of opinion'that the action of the Government would tend to prevent .farmers 'growing wheat instead of aiding it (as the Government desired). He also pointed out that the taking of so many steamers for troopships was go-: ing to block tho export trade to some extent. The Government, he thought, should-be'very careful in these matters.

The Presideut said that doubtless Mr. Ballinger's heart would bo made glad when he saw a number of ox-Ge'rman boats distributing our produce beautifully. No doubt if .the farmers did not put in. wheat they would put in something that would produae nioni. money, and that would be all the better for the country. The report and balance-sheet was adopted. The election of officers resulted as under: —Pres&lent, Mr. C. B. Norwood; vice-presidents, >, Messrs. F. J. Evans and H. Read; treasurer, Mr. HardieShaw; general committee, Messrs. E. Bull, T. Ballinger, S.' Campbell, W. Cable, W. Crabtree, F. C. Crease. R. G. Denton, F. J. Evans, J. P. Luke. M. Mantbel, W. •M'Lay, A.' W. Newtoii, G. Norton, C. Palliser, L. R. Partridge, D.. Robertson, H. Seaton, W. J. Thompson, L. T Watkins, A. M. Wilson, F. Rouse, W. Eglin, G. Sherwood, M. Martin, and A. Mabood; auditors,' Messrs. A. G. Biss and A. T. Clarke.