INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 130, 19 February 1918, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF ASSOCIATION

PRICES OF HIDES AND SKINS

Mr. L. F. Wntkins (vice-president) occupied the chair at the monthly, meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association, held last evening.

Mr. Norris, of Masterton, wrote to the association, strongly recommending an Anzac Day, for specially urging on the public their duty regarding the purchase of British and coloniafl goods, instead of' goods from other countries. He proposed that- thei schools should he interested in the form-, of competitive essays on British andl colonial industries.. His proposal was; that a special day should be set apartthroughout New Zealand. A repjy was forwarded to Mr. Norris thanking him for his communication, and informing him that such matters had been attended to in the past by the industrial associations, and would be so attended to in the future. The secretary stated that, he Irfid written to Mr. John.Brown, of Dimedin, urging him to revive an industrial association in Dunedin., Jifr.Brown replied enumerating the m;wy associations that already existed in Dunedin. There were so many associations, indeed, that they did not know where they were. He ad'rised Mr. Allen to write to the Manufacturers' Association, of Dunedin. Title of the Assooiation. - Mr. Vickerinan said that the fflitle of the Industrial Association was roally a. misnomer. Right through Australia there wore Manufacturers' j>uisociations, all linked up, and as far- as he could see the association was a Manufacturers' Association. Mr. All pm said that as the title of the association bad been gazetted, they could not alter it. Mr. Vickernian moved that the secretary cpniniunicate with the 'Dunedin: Manufacturers' Association ask ing that body whether it was nrepnreif- to link un with the industrial associations' of New flenlnnd. This vs? seri>nded by Mr. T. Ballinger and carried'. Professor TCasterl'icld wrote starting that he .would be pleased Ho acf; as judge of the essays on "THie Utilisation of \Vaste Products." Hides and Skins, A letter was received from the_Aulckland Association enclosing 'the copy of a letter which had been (sent to lihe Prime Minister on 'the of tSio proposed conference dealing with Imperial purchases of hides a.iid skins as the outcome of proposals naade heImperial authorities to the New Zenland Government. This letter pnintiid out that neither local iriianufactureivs nor consumers had been considers! a 6 parties to the conference* The letteiF proceeded: "Since these commodities; have been controlled by the Government, manufacturers have been able lo* make business arrangements with somei degree of security and confidence, and! it is considered that any veyersal of; the present arrangement is calculated', seriously to disturb tlirit security andl add greatly to the cost of leather t-ei local consumers."

Mr. C. J. Ward explained that prior to the intervention of ''the New_ Zealand authorities 'lie market for skins ancFt hides was at the heck and call ofi American speculators. At times tha market was up and at other times itf was depressed. Then, when the j.-iiceS were fixed, the price for hides went i.p 2d. per lh., for though the Government had fixed the price It had done so at! the expense of the «:onsumer, for local! manufacturers were paying 2d. per lb. : more than the price at which-hides; were being, >=old to •(•he tanners in Eng-* land. There were tivo sides to-the n?atter, for they had ' certain]}- found tho price lu'glier tlian t'he price in England,, and also higher than the fixed price in. Australia. The largest consumers hero were the boot manmfacturers, who werei after oil only the agents for passing it; on to the public. For that reason itseemed to him tli.-nt both parties should) be represented at; the. conference. Mr< Ward said that the Auckland Association was comnnvnicating with all other, associations in the Dominion with a' view'to bringing,pressure on the Gov ernment to get this representation. The. chairman said that he saw no! reason why thei association should i;ot support the req nest, and on Mr. T. Ballinger's motion it was decided to do so.. It was also (decided that if representation was grouted, Messrs/Ward and Maddison: should represent the_ manufacturers and consumers resnsetively. Mr. Ward .said that the add-;d 2d.per lb. for hides meant an increase of Is. f)d. in evi>ry pair of working lr.eirls boots. Annual Meeting of the Corporation. It was decided that the annual meeting of the N.tew Zealand Industrial Conference be hold in Wellington on March 13. The neiifc meeting of the local association will be held on March 11. industries Week. The master of Industries Week was left for a report from a committee, the ! report to be presented at the next meeting '-at the association.