N.Z. BOARD OF TRADE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2405, 10 March 1915, Page 9

N.Z. BOARD OF TRADE

IMPORTANT PROPOSAL

DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER

In- connection with the establishment of. the proposed Board of Trade and Industries, which proposal emanated from Mr. J. Laurenson (president of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand), who bad forwarded circulars explaining his objeot, which the members had been supplied with, Mr. Laurenson had perhaps aotedi rather precipitately when he stated that the proposal had been endorsed by the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand. As a matter of fact, the project had never been-before the corporation. .;. ■

The secretary of the ..corporation pointed out at the meeting last evening that a deputation from the Central. Chamber -of Commerce bad waited on the Prime Minister last month, requesting the Government to consider the setting up of a Board of Trade, and the Prime Minister had promised legislation in that direction. Mr. Allen- said that he did not think , that the Government would allow-'any private body to use such a title as the Board of Trade, whioh must, surely be a Government body.

The chairman (Mr. 0. B. Norwood) said that whilst tliey may not be in accord with the manner in wl ich the proposal had been put forward, it might be advisable to hear what the objects of the proposed board were, in-, order to become seized of the general principles incorporated in the proposal. Objeots of the Proposed Board. Mr. Allen, then read the objects of the proposed board, which were as follow:— 1. The work of the board shall he primarily directed to increase the prosperity of the Dominion.' .

.2. To promote the growth and development of pastoral, farming,', dairying, horticulture, and agricultural industries.

3. To stimulate and encourage those, manufacturing' industries already established, and to create new trades, occupations, and employment,.. .4. To establish more friendly relations between merchants, trades, manufacturers, and every- section of producers in the Dominion

5. To establish direct relations ' with the Government of the day, so thai the best interests of all forms of enterprise and employment shall be carefully safeguarded, and! the best and : most economical methods provided for growth and expansion. -

6. To secure Government recognition and finanoial support, which shall:, entitle the ■ Government to proper, representation on the Executive Council. '

7. To establish and maintain, bureaux of information which shall, collect. .and distribute statistics relating to British, foreign, and home markets, latest market rates, and prices ruling in various, parts of the world, for all items of value to the producers, manufacturers; and'.merchants in \he Dominion.

8.; To protect merchants and manu-facturers.-who d'esire conscientiously to : refuse - to -trade, - directly ■ or; indireotly, with. enemy"countries! by keeping watch over o ther'firms whose boaa 'fides in this direction are open to suspicion, .9. To protect Dominion merchants and. manufacturers' by, detecting- and ex-. posing abuse of trade marks, falsification as to nationality and manufacturing towns, places of origin of merchandise," eto:, . .. ',

. 10. To prevent loss of trade through the illicit manufacture, and Sale" of for? eign;.goods stamped;,wi.tli falsified British names and trade distinctions.-

- 11. To take such steps as may he 'open to suppress dumping , . 12. To induce and arrange witti. Home manufacturers and merchants' to supply goods 'specially suited to colonial markets. '' ' " . "

. "13. To bring .about, co-operative effort between different Dominion' manufacturers'; so- that', manufactures may,. .be undertaken, conjointly which would be impossible individually, and whereby otherwise waste products may be turned to profitable account. ■ '

14. To obtain for Dominion manufacturers the best expert advice in regard to tho opening up of new ..industries and the plant and machinery necessary -for the same, and for Dominion merchants the best and cheapest sources of supply of raw material and. other goods required for industries.

15. To watch the interests of Dominion merchants and manufacturers by studying, the incidence of fiscal duty as affecting them, recording anomalies, bringing the same before the Government and pressing for their amendment. 16. To act as the connecting link between, the Dominion and the British Board of frade —especially its department - of commercial '.'ntelligence—also the Imperial Institute anil the Colonial Institute!

17. To act in conjunction with, and' as a technical adjunct to," the Chamber, of Commerce throughput tho Dominion.. 18. To seek to establish a "Dominion of New Zealand" trade mark. - ' •• •••••

-9. To seek to establish an "Empire" trademark.

' 20. To keep the Dominion and her activities, resources, and products always before the eyes of the world and esriecjally of Great Britain and all her colonies.

■Mr. Norwood said that the' Central Chamber of Commerce had been given to understand'that , the setting up of .a Board of Trade • was a policy measure of the Government, and that the resolution. the former body had passed, was merely /to '.strengthen the hands of t'he Government. ..The idea was undoubtedly an excellent cne, but.bethought that father than-the proposal should come from a few; individuals in Cliristchurch, a conference should, be convened, to consider the matter. He- personally was wholly in favour of the idoa. -He thought that it was. a pity that they did not know the mind of .the Prime Minister on the matter. Mr. D. Robertson thought that was exactly the point. , The Mind of the Government, Mr: T.'Ballinger proposed that there should be a meeting of the executive' of the Industrial Corporation of New Zea-; land to consider the matter. . Mr, Laurenson said in a footno:e to his circular that the preliminary work had been carried cut by the_ corporation, which was not so. The president lived in Christchurch, but. the executive of the corporation was in Wellington. He thought that Mr. Laurenson should be invited to come to Wellington to consider the matter. They did not. want a Board of Trade like they. had.-in' England. ; '" '- .

Mr. Robertson:' That's why we want; to know what Mr. Massey wants. Mr. Ballingcr: That's ■ it —I don't think it's the same scheme at all. We want a body on which we will have a .say in the election of -the members. He moved that a deputation wait upon the Premier in order to ascertain if possible what was in the. Government's mind in regard to the setting np of the Board of Trade. This was seconded by Mr. Cable and carried.