TARIFF AND TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 209, 23 May 1918, Page 6

TARIFF AND TRADE

OCR SECONDARY INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURERS' IDEAS DEPUTATION TO HON. A. M. MYERS

.A. deputation from the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association yesterday waited on the Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister of Customs and Acting-Minister of l'inance, for the purpose of placing before him their views in connection with the national organisation of the secondary industries of the country. It was urged ■that a special Department bo set up lo deal with matters relating to industry, in exactly the same manner as that in which tho Agriculture Department deals with agricultural matters. Tho present state of affairs, it was stated, was responsible for the fact that important records and data obtained from time lo lime by industrial associations wero now simply deposited in the archives of the various associations, instead of being filed in a Department, with a view to their practical utilisation in tho interests of national development and industrial expansion. Another point that was brought forward by the deputation was tho existing lack of State organisation for bringing together tho representatives of Capital .;nd Labour.

It was also stated that the present Customs tariff was devised some considerable time ago r.nd was now therefore old in principle. The suggestion was made that a board be set up with the object of collecting information for revising the tariff and bringing the whole subject up to date. The opinion was expressed by the deputation that the useful information bearing on tho. industries of tho Dominion now being obtained by the Minister-in-Chargo of Munitions and Supplies should bo carefully recorded with the object of ita utilisation to the best advantage after the war.

The establishment of a separate Department of Industry would also be of extreme value in connection with new enterprises, there being at present no official channel through which preliminary inquiries can bo made-and full information secured bearing on the establishment of ne\vN business concerns. Tho association mado tho suggestion that industries and commerce be constituted two distinct Departments, and that a board of capablo business men bo appointed in an advisory capacity to the Department of Industries, to the end that a means be created whereby the industrial interests of tho Dominion might receivo full State encouragement and support. The view was further expressed that, following upon' tho cessation of hostilities, thoro was likely to be a considerable influx of immigrants, mainly of the industrial classes, whose advent, it was thought, would have no inconsiderable effect -'.upon the trend of industry in tho Dominion.

In reply, the Minister expressed his pleasuro at being afforded the opportunity to. meet a deputation so fully representative of tho industries of New Zealand. Not only as Minister of Customs,. Supplies, and Act-ing-Minister of Finance, but also as a business man himself, it was unnecessary for him to 6tate that ho was extremely, interested in the questions that had been raised. He had listened .very carefully to what had been said, and believed that the remarks mado had touched upon vitally important subjects. New Zealand's policy with regard to trade, the Minister pointed out, jiad always been a clearly defined one. To. put it shortly, that policy had always been the encouragement of our own, industries within the Dominion, and tho fostering of economic relationships with the Empire. After the war, of course, Hie Imperial policy of- inter-reciprocal trading now taking definite shape by means of discussions between representatives of the whole Empire at the periodical conferences and Imperial Cabinets would eventually become an established fact; and the course to be followed by New Zealand at that time would only be an extension of that policy of Imperial preference, of which she had always been a warm advocate, with flio additional proviso that, next in preference to our own Empire, there should be an effort made to swell the volume of . trade with tho gallant Allies w'ho had thrown in their lot with us in this world war.

The Minister stated that it was quite recognised that the secondary industries of the country wero becoming more and more important with each passing year, and in view of the obligation that lay upon us to organise and develop tho whole of our resources towards meeting the hoaiy financial responsibilities incurred during tho war, it was all the . more necessary that the secondary industries of tho Dominion should receive the fullest possible consideration. Regarding the inauguration by the State of a modus operandi whereby Capital and Labour might bo brought into contact, with the object of promoting mutual understanding. Mr. Myers drew attention to the tact that the thinking men of all classes aud all countrioß were practically unanimous in the opinion that this was one of thotto important questions on- which the whole future of human progress and welfare _ might hinge. He assured the deputation that so far as New Zealand was concerned, this subject was by no means being overlooked by the Government. So far as tho tariff was concerned, tho Minister pointed out that it was tho desire of the Government to review tnls, as soon as a favourable opportunity presented itself. The Industrial Association, in liia opinion, would be of material assistance .in this direction, and he looked forward to availing himself of the valuable data now being accumulated by its various branches. It was his intuition to suggest to Cabinet the advisability of settiug up a small committee, composed of practical and experienced men, to assist the Minister of Customs in. the direction of visiting various centres and obtaining reliable information as a guide towards the amendment and reconstruction of our tariff.

Regarding new industries, Mr. Myers 6tated that it was fully recognised that in future tht State would bo called upon to accord to business enterprise and initiative a fuller measure of. support than 'had hitherto been forthcoming. With respect to scientific research, his colleague, the Minister of Internal Affairs, wfs already dealing with" tTiTs matter. Tne question of immigration, ti which reference had been made, was not one coming directly under his jurisdiction, and vas one that involved an important matter of policy. The Minister stated, however, that together with the other questions that had been raised, he would have pleasure in bringing the representations of the deputation on Hie subject in question under the notice of his colleagues, at the first favourable opportunity.