NATIVE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 September 1879, Page 3

NATIVE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION.

The titst general meeting of the Association for the fostering and encouragement of Native industries .and productions, was held in the old Oddfellows' Hall, last evening. The president, Mr 3J. Allan, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The secretary (Mr W. W. Charters) read each clause of the rules seriatim, the whole being adopted without amendment. The Chairman stated that since the Association last met, the committee had had

numerous meetings, and a large amount of business had been transacted. Pamphlets and circulars had been issued all over Now Zealand, and a large amount of sympathy had been gained by the Association. They had now 290 members on the books, and many of these were employers of labor. A thorough canvass hod not been mode, and most of these had joined spontaneously. From other parts of New Zealand they had received a large numborof letters sympathising with the cause. Nearly every candidate for representation in Parliament had had to express his views on the subject, which had been well ventilated. There was no doubt that the publio generally had had the subject brought so forcibly to them that it must result in good, and it was generally considered that a different policy to that which had existed in New Zealand must be brought forward. Even the people who were not what might be termed protectionists recognised the fact that it was necessary from a financial point of view that. New Zealand should try and retain within herself some of the money we so liberally were sending broadcast through the world. The oolony could not afford to go on as it had been doing. In support of that, he would read the imports and exports of the three colonies for the year 1878 :—Victoria—lmports, £16,161,880 ; exports, £14,925,707. New South Wa1e5£14,606,594; £14,606,594; exports, £13,125,819. New Zealand £6,226,126. The gist of this was that the exports of Victoria were less than the imports by 7i per cent, in New South Wales the exports were lees by 11 per cent, and in New Zealand our exports are 19 per cent |ess than our imports. Victoria was a country which was in very bad odour just now. It had been held up to them that' Victoria was in a very bad way, and his honest opinion was that New Zealand also was in a very bad state.' New Zealand of all these three countries was the last that could afford to go on at the rate we have been doing, as we owe more in England than any of the others. According to a leading article in the Pbbbb that morning, the yearly strain upon the colony would be over three millions. How such a state of things could continue, he could not conceive for a moment. He could only conceive it possible to continue by our borrowing policy. He was certain they would accomplish a great deal of good if they brought this home to every resident in the plaoe, and everyone must admit a change necessary. The effect of his experience had been that very many free-traders, from the different circumstances of the colony, had become staunch protectionists, and saw the necessity of encouraging such industries as could be fairly established, and they would find very few protectionists who had turned round and become free-traders. It showed that a good many men in the place were not prepared to keep in the narrow groove that they had followed. The committee had worked hard, and in a few months he thought they might expect considerable results. It was not intended to go to the length that had been gone to in Victoria in the matter of protection, but they would go in for protection of those articles that might fairly be 'said to belong to the colony, or that would have a fair chance of succeeding. The candidates for Christchurch had been interviewed on the subject, and, in fact, nearly every candidate in Canterbury had had this subject brought before him.

The secretary read the following report:— Association for the Fostering and Encouraging of Native Industries and Produce.

Report of the sub-committee appointed to interview the candidates to represent Christchurch in the House of Representatives. Your committee beg to report that in accordance with a resolution of tho general committee they waited upon the candidates for the Christchurch election to ascertain their views upon the subjects advocated by the association with the following results, viz :—• Mr E. C. J. Stevens expressed himself as a freetrader, his difficulty being the fighting against the established principles. The committee pointed out the different circumstances of the colony as compared with England, which he admitted; the only real concession made by him was that he would advocate the introduction of raw materials here. Hon. E. Richardson expressed himself in favor of protecting all those indnttries and productions that would have a fair chance of succeeding in the colony, and in support he draw our attention to the fact of his refusing to vote with the Government for the abolition of the duty on grain and timber, as being raw products, but when the item of flour came on he strongly opposed and voted against tho remission of duty, it beine a manufactured article. He referred ns to his published address, and promised to present any petition, and to further the interests and objects of the association in any manner he could. Sir George Grey was very guarded in his reply, but stated that he sympathised with us, but conld not allude to it in a speech to be given by him that evening (Saturday), but intended making a speech in Dunedin, where he would allude to it. Your committee not being satisfied with his reply, put the following question to him at the public meeting—" Will Sir George Grey be prepared to support a policy having for its object the fostering and enoouragement of native industries and productions ?" He replied as follows. [The- Premier's reply appeared in the report of his meeting on Saturday week.] Mr S. P. Andrews, although not a warm Protectionist, was entirely in favour ot the programme ns laid down in our circular. He referred to his actions in the Provincial Council, where he proposed bonuses to glazed ware and cement. He did not approve of an indiscriminate protective tariff, bnt it should only apply to those articles that could be fairly manufactured here. Robt. A LI, AN. A. G. Howl and. W. W. Ghabtxbs. The Chairman said that Mr Treadwell had not been announced as a candidate at the time that this report was drawn up, but in a conversation he had had with him he said that he was a freetrader, but believed in a young colony a certain amount of protection was required to establish native industries. He (the chairman) confessed he was unable to judge whether Sir George Grey was a protectionist or a freetrader. His answer was given in full to the question put by them, and eaoh one would have to form his own opinion as to what that meant. In the present election there was a deal of party feeling, and many had made up their minds as to whom they should vote for. The Association did not intend to coeroe them, but would leave the matter to their good sense. Mr R. H. Wood moved —" That this association having heard the report of the Bubcommittee, are of opinion that _ generally members should support those candidates that expressed themselves in favour of its objects." Ho himself would voto- for the candidates who were in favour of protection. Mr E. Toomer seconded the motion. Mr J. K. Brown did not consider they should go so far as that. The eleotion was an exceptional one, and the matter of protection or free trade did not oven form one of the issues. Mr Howland enquired whether the Conservative candidates were the protectionists ? The Chairman said it did not follow that a Liberal or a Conservative should be a protec- '. tionist.

Mr Howland moved aa an amendment—- " That the association use its best endeavors to secure the return of Moasrs Biohardson and Andrews, those candidates being favorable to the objects of the association." This being seconded, Mr Brown moved, as a further amendment —" That as the present election has definite issues placed before it, and the protection of native industries has not been one of them, this association declines to express any opinion on the question." It would not surprise him if before long there should bo another dissolution of the House of Representatives on thia very queßtion, and then it would bo sufficient time for the association to pledge itself. Mr Johnston seconded the amendment. The original motion was oarried. The Chairman read letters from Wellington, where a similar association was being formed, and Pioton, expressing sympathy with the objects of this association. The meeting terminated witfi a vote of thanks to the chairman.