INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 10

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE

THE NEWEST DEPARTMENT DISCUSSED BY PRESIDENT OF . INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION The relation between the manufacturing industries of New Zealand and the now Department of Industries and Commerce was discussed by Mr. C. J. Hard, president of ths Wellington Industrial Association, at a meeting of the committee of tho association last night. "The Department,’’ said Mr. Ward, "will for good or ill affect tho economic welfare of tho larger half of our entire population, for that is the proportion of our people dependent upon our ,mani> factoring industries for their livelihood and well-being. “It can exert a very powerful influence on the much-vexed question of duties and taxation. Our huge public debt, with its interest and reduction charges, and the change from a favourable trade balance to an adverse one, are matters that will be largely affected by the policy of the Department of Industries and Commerce. We know that notwithstanding the large increase in the money values of the exports of tho past few years, that the volume of primary production has actually declined. This in a cycle of falling prices will further adversely affect the trade balance. "Much attention is at tho moment being directed to the question of encouraging immigration, and if tho right class of immigrant will come to us they will bo a distinct gain to our country. Even here tho new Department can be of great assistance, as four persons can be Employed in our manufacturing industries for the same capital outlay required for one person on the land. "The Board of Trade is a sub-depart-ment of tho Department of Industries, although wo might be excused for thinking it was the other way round. The Board of Trade has many activities. and to its credit has handled most of them satisfactorily. The three members of tho Board of Trade have been called upon to act iu many capacities, and are still responsible for many special sub-departments. Control of wheat and cement, special inquiries into coal and timber supplies, the fixation of prices for hundreds of commodities, ths distribution of sugar, the export of potatoes. the standardisation of footwear prices, the providing of a most capable Conciliation Commissioner, who acted with outstanding ability in several serious labour disputes, and, last, the chasing of the elusive profiteer. Considering this list of operations, is there any cause for surprise at the small amount of attention these three gentlemen have been able to give to the real functions of the Department of Industries? “I have been requested especially to deal with the manner in which we can help the Department, and in return the Department can help us. This is a very simple proposition, if viewed in the right perspective. We, as an association of industrialists, suggested the following fairly comprehensive list of subjects for the consideration of the Department of Industries: —Tho formulation of a scientific tariff; research work in chemistry, economics, and accountancy; industrial statistics, showing the position and progress of the manufacturing industries, their comparative value, and totals in relation to the national income; to set out clearly the balance of output and consumption of New Zealand manufactures; accountancy: to set up a.n accountancy department having special facilities for collating industrial accounts; to ascertain average costs and profits in the various industries, and to advise generally as to the best and latest systems of costing for manufacturers; industrial banks and banking; standardisation of manufactures; distribution of manufactured goods; transport; a reference library. “There were others, but these were the most important, and the position at the moment is that the board has set up the accountancy department, has offered to put officers at work on any question involving research work, and is to share in the arduous and difficult task tof tariff revision. This is a heavy task for the small staff of this Department, but is it not fair to say, as manufacturers, that every one of these activities will materially help us?”