OUR INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2685, 3 February 1916, Page 9

OUR INDUSTRIES

WHAT THE WAR HAS TAUGHT 1 AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. ' A few days ago a most interesting conference of the Industrial Corporation of Now Zealand (representing the various industrial associations) was held in Christchurc'h. Ono of the most striking features of the conference was the presidential address by Mr. J. B. | Laurenson, which hitherto has not been published'. In the course of that ad-; dress, Mr. Laurenson said:— "The war has put the whole world in tho melting pot, or, in other words, we are being tried in the fierce fires of war. It depends oil our actions and attitude whether we emerge from the trial a ljetter people with higher ideals of life or fail to stand the test. I am satisfied that that people who are regularly and continually employed at good wages will be tho dominant race. History is strewn with records of empires wliioli have passed away because their 4 basis rested cither on slavery or poverty for the bulk of the people. "Private and public dharity (and in the latter I include relief and co-operativo works) as a means of raising a nation are worse than useless. In tho first you lower one's self-respect, and tho second docs not give the fruits of his labour to the individual. Industrial enterprise and expansion alono will solvo the great question of regular and profitable employment to overy man and woman. It is not a question of can we, but we must seo that our industrial life grows with the growth of our potation. The industrial life of the Dominion is not, and never has been, satisfactory, and it is 'up to' the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand to load a Dominion movement for placing our .industries on a sure and progressive hacis. That the latent wealth of New Zetland is enormous is well known. Wo have everything necessary in tho way of land and raw material for tho support of millions of people. The war has taught us the necessity of manufacturing, but unfortunately we as a people have been educated to rely on imports. Tho bogey of Labour and tariffs has frightened us, and we have failed to understand that regular and profitable employment is tho ciire for the former, and loyalty to our own produstions renders any tariff harmless.

Greatest Brains Required. "This war is imposing very great burdens on the Empire, but the greatest brains are required now 'and after tho war to so safeguard our present industries and see to tho establishment of others as will render it impossible for our enemies to exploit our markets in the future. This is the subject that should engage our earnest attention. It is one of vital importance to ourselves ami those who come after us. The question 'is not easy of solution, but I am certain if we approach the matter in a reasonable spirit the difficulties will .be overcome. At the outset we. must harness science and industry together. Although our manufacturers' are progressive, they have not taken full advantage of our colleges nor consulted our professors as they should have done. There are profossors at Canterbury College willing and able to advise and direct manufacturers, but how seldom is their assistance sought.

Supporting Our Own. "I maintain that we should not expect the public to buy our goods simply because they are of Now Zealand manu> facture. They should buy tliem because they are as good or better than our competitors. On these lines alone can we nope to progress. Remember, I do i not say manufacturers are fully considered by the Government. This reproach can be removed by a Government Department"containing the most highly-trained experts on research. As an illustration I would remind you that our arch-enemy Germany can place *at tho disposal of oven a small manufacturing concern tho highest-trained intelligence in any particular line at a figure within the reach of small capital. Men who in tho British Empire can command a salary of many hundreds per annum are to bo secured in Germany_ at a few pounds per week. Ido not, in mentioning this, suggest for a moment that we should allow such a state of things here, but merely point it out to show how great a start the German manufacturer has. Further, he has the great assistance of a- scicnti-fically-constructed tariff of offence and defence designed for the express purposo of assisting him while protecting the consumer at home.

Salvation of the Empire. "I do not require to point out to you the almost unbelievable progress Germany has made during the last thirty or forty years. The official figures are so great as to lead one to say that the present ivar is really the salvation of the British Empire. Had the German curbed his wish for war, and devoted his energies to capturing . the world's markets, lie could have been master ol the world's commerce in 50 or 100 years. The war is, however, welding us into an Empire which should, if we are wise and reasonable, enablo us to meet all fair competition, and successfully fieht anv unfair competition: .This task lies before us, and the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand should bear its nart. I submit the matter for the careful consideration of tlm incoming executive, with a suggestion that tho Government should be strongly urged to take advantage of those best equipped to advise them.