Defence of British Industries

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 October 1916, Page 3

Defence of British Industries

ENGINEERS' DECISION. > i An important conference represen- |. tative of the engineering and 6hip- , building industries of Scotland was i held in the City Chambers, Glasgow, in August last, when it was decided . to form a strong central organisation of those industries to cope with German competition after the war. A total of 250 firms was represented nt the conference. ORGANISATION IMPERATIVE. Mr. W. Rowan Thomson, chairman of the North-West Engineering Trades Employers' Association, moved tlio first resolution, which was in the following terms:— "That in view of the unprecedented situation created by. the war, and the uncertainty of the future, this meeting is of opinion that all engineering firms in England and Scotland should come together under a strong central organisation capable of dealing with important questions that will certainly arise in the near future; and that tlio existing organisations oonnected wit engineering should certainly receive whole-hearted (support in order that they may be strong to achieve the objects for which they were created. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Thomson said that the cost of the war made it imperative for us to organise our industries so as to develop our existing and potential sources of wealth as rapidly as possible. To do so was a national duty. Such an object could only be achieved, by the elimination of internal rivalry, personal dislikes, and what was known as class war. We had now no margin left for the dissipation of energy those unamiable and deleterious pir suits. Some might say that the fir* step was to secure the establishment of a Minister of Industry. 'He did not agree with that, and thorough'y endorsed the Prime Minister's opinion that salvation would not come through the multiplication of Government departments, which he viewed, with alarm and distrust. "What they wanted was to organise themselves to assist tb-> existing Government departments in leaving the industries alone to manage their own businesses, which they understood better than any politician or permanent official.

Sir John Oowan, Edinburgh, seconded the resolution, which was adopted. A committee was then set up to inquire into and report on the form which the organisation should take.