INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS

AN AFTER-WAR PROSPECT WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of tho AYellington Industrial Association makes sonio interesting reference to after-war industrial .problems. "We must all recognise," says the report, "that there will lie an important duty to. perform, after tho war, to those of our men who went forth to fight. Who will-say that'we. are not under'the deepest obligation to them? What of our industries and businesses if our enemies were allowed to gain the upper hand ? It, will doubtless prove a .somewhat difficult problem to deal with the matter of general employment after tho war, but if ever preference wero justified it surely should be given to returned .soldiers. Somo will not bo able to resume their former, occupations, and it is to bo hoped that the managers of our technical colleges aud workshops will confer'with the Government, at an early date, regarding tlu's national question. There aro two more important matters which must here bo touched upon—viz., our latent industries and technical education. ' A Board of Industries. "When members of the Industrial Corporation of New_ Zealand were sitting in. conference in Christchurch in January last, tho Right Hon. the Premier, who was in Christ-church, was waited on, and ho promised to have a New Zealand Board of Industries appointed, and wo consider that such board should have been appointed before Parliament prorogued. It goes without saying that a New Zealand Board of Industries should consist of practical men —manufacturers. Tho Premier at tho same time undertook to sco that a committee was set up to inquire into the important question of the Dominion's latent industries.' This has not yet been done. It can doubtless bo proved upon proper investigation that very iiriportKnt industries could be opened up. The more industries we have the greater tho field for employment. Lot us tako as examples our iron sands, petroleum fields, and sands which aro claimed to be suitable for glass manufacture. Here proper investigation would prove of groat importance,'' and wo .think that tho Government -should seo to it. It should not ho left for a few companies to be formed for experimental purposes. Word has just been received that in Victoria there are hopes expressed that if proper encouragement be given, motor spirit can be produced from the residue of Pintsch gas, or shale gas. It is stated that this residue was previously regarded as a ,wasto proddct, its greatest utility having been as a weed killer 017 a spray for coal. The AusGovernment is looking into tho matter. It is stated that at present petrol to the value of £15,000,000 per annum is imported into the Commonwealth. ■, Our secretary .has written to Australia for any available' information. . We repeat that the sooner a New Zealand Board of Industries is appointed the better. ';■' './. Technical Education. . "Technical .education continues to he ■ taught in tho cramped unsuitable building in 'Wellington, and so far as we know, a suitablo building for this important '-'national work is just about as far off as ever. .On March 23 last a' largo deputation waited upon tho Minister of Education, ' the Hon. J., A. lianan. The Minister was very sympathetic, and proved that he had the interests of .education much at heart, biit frankly admitted that he saw that tho Government would ho' somewhat afraid of the cost which they would be asked to pay towards the erection of a suitable building. We frankly admit that we ha'vo no sympathy in that direction, but hold that at whatever cost the Government of- our country should see to it that our bojy and girls, and those of our men and women so desiring, should ho offered facilities for gaining technical education. Technical knowledge will prove to be of by far greater importance in the future than in the past. Scientific research, too, must be encouraged and greatly , assisted. Bo it realised that we have to make and manufacture much which has in the past been left to Germany." ■ The report quotes import and export statistics, and asks how it comes to pass that, seeing that trading with Germany was prohibited, goods to the value of £88,284 were landed in Now Zealand from that country during tho year 1915.. . . ' . ' - .