OUR INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 8

OUR INDUSTRIES

THE CHRISICHURGII SESSION MANUFACTURERS' EVIDENCE By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, February 17. Before tho Industries Committee, Mr. Frank Cooper, representing the engineering and agricultural implement industries, urged (he cstnblisluueiiL of a real Department of Industries. There was, he said, special need for tariff assistance in this induslry, which at present wns unprotected. If properly developed 500 more youths would be converted into skilled artisans annually. Willioul provision to meet additional competition by other countries the position would become worse than before the war. lie was not in i'nvour of the importation of an American expert engineer, but considered a better plan would be to enable New Zealand manufacturers 'to visit other countries and study advanced methods. George. T. Booth said his firm'* disc limtows had been copied in other parts rf the world. He considered -New Zealand firms could manufacture the 1300 harrows at present being imported into f\ T ew Zealand by agricultural implement compunip-t. There was no reason why we should not also be a ninmifactiiriiig country. .JTo would like to sec the Industries Department ri:n by business men. This Department should give assistance to manufacture) , ;! or elfo ijiiorantee dividends for a carfain number

frf years after becoming satisfied, ihat an industry was likely to be successful. ■Tames Keir, representincr Miwrs. V. and J). Duncan, in speaking of the New Zealand plough. nlate.d that in tho Dominion they hud for forty-eight: years

a hotter plough than ever had been used in America or Britain. As an ■instance of the conservativeness of the f;u'I mer in Hie Old Country, lie stated thai a I returned soUiicr had recently seen in Ireland a single-furrow plough being drawn. by four horses, and worked by three men. He advocated s> 50 per cent, duty on' imports which could be made in the Dominion, and a 25 per cent, preferential duty on all implements manufactured in Britain. These duties, he said, would greatly increase ■ the industry _ in-.New Zcnland and would rive employment to a (lnrge number-of returned •soldiers.. He ■favoured tho importation of experts from Britain or America to advise as to modern methods, mid thought the Government should in lurn seiid at (he Stale expense manufacturers to> foivign connfries, so as. to bring bnel; valuable, information. He strongly advocated the Government taking over the ferry. service with a view to getting belter shipping facilities between the two islands. He complained that farmers did not • buy ' dii'pcl from the manufacturer, and said ■that the elimination of the middleman would mean a great'reduction in aiicnte' commissions, which'amounted to 15 per cent, of the value of tho implements sold. In reply lo a question from Air. Luke, witness strongly, disapproved'of any proposal which inailo for undue State control ■ "T don't believe in any more State control than is absolutely necessary," he said.

Professors Chiltou, Farr, and Evans advocated ■ better grants .for scientific research work-.

llcferrin? to waste of coal, Ihe Instnamed said that there -should be, first, much greater use of Raieons fuel; second, much greater use o( electric, power; third; economy in coal by sending it to some consumers in partially carbonised form?, to others in the form of oil, and lo others in various -forms, which would pav for tho carbonisation.

W. Xicholls and V. Bobson conlen(|p(l that more wool.should be scoured in New Zealand and by-products saved. The manufacturers of gelatine, glue, noari barley, and split peas urged that these industries should be encouraged by a protective tariff.

The Commission adjourned till tomorrow. '