MANUFACTURERS’ FEDERATION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1930, Page 7

MANUFACTURERS’ FEDERATION

Annual conference.

N ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR

v COMMERCE

;:i WELLINGTON, July 4. ; Speaking ; at the luncheon, of the Nbw Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, the Minister for Industries and : Gottunerce, the Hon. P, A. de la Per--1 rellfe, after apologising for the unavoidable absencfe of the Prime Minister bwing to pressure of Parliamentary duties, complimented the Federation ; on the work it was doing to encourage and develop the seoonuiry industries of the Dominion. Tlie Minister remarked that the products of New Zealand industries could hardly be ; surpassed, with few exceptions; by similar commodities produced ovei«eas. He was pleased to note that in ittjinyj- industries during the past year there had-been greater activity and mnre' peifsibiis "emploj’ed ‘ than in the previous year. The total salaries and wages bill had increased by 1.25 per cent to jufet over £17,000,000.; Value of. products bad increased by 6.20 per cent to. oyer £93,000,000. The capital; investedin the Dominion’s manufacturing industries was approximately 500.0(»r: / *'l can assure you,” said the Ministir, “of .the Government's interest in our manufacturing industries, and ■ of its wliole-hearted support of any Sound treasonable scheme for tlieir future deVelbpment and encouragement.' I tthink the Government made its-attitude clear last year, when it pronounced the- adoption of a definite JSblidyi in.' regard to the purchase of - stores, a policy of giving prefer-en.deV-to goods manufactured in. New Zealand, provided quality, price, and other ’faciors relating to delivery are equal, or."approximately .so. . “The .Government has manifested in other ways, as, for instoco; - the work , of the Timber Committee, which object the encouragement .the greater■-•use of. -New Zealand.tihiber by enquiry into the use, of New ‘-.Zealand ti mber for fruit and other ’,defies;- with th©' object of using n'^largßri;proportion of local timber, and by.ithe work of the Footwear Commmitieej' .dealt exhaustivelyj'witht:t^di;;pteßent difficulties facing. tlw Vindustry.^., Jn ;this latter’, tonneijion the; .committee’s reoort' madev .wai liable recommendations, of 'a , hojto ip 'btder to overcome . > reyealed by the OF METHODS. V-V-ivt'. ■■ % ‘ ■. . ;; V- Standardisation of methods in »n----dWry' -cbnfer--Jenfefit hoth:t|e: industrj' and \cortotttner: 'in . reduced • costa , and Dr MStsdenj' of the Department of Bciehtifia\ “h!d Industrial • Reeearch,

addressing the conference, referred to the establishment of a standard laboratory as most necessary in New Zealand,. standardisation being essential especially in engineering. Standardisation was the underlying factor in building up the secondary industries. Local -bodies in making specifications should allow local manufacturers to have- a say in the matter to make sure that local conditions would suit the specifications. He quite..realised the difficulties in standardisation between Great Britain and America and New Zealand. Great Britain had been a little slow in realising the part Staridardis Jtion could play in industry, and New Zealand, busies manufacturers could find a more rapid adaptation to continually changing and H improved methods, would find it difficult to keep its place with the' rest of the world.

Mr F. Campbell (Wellington) said New Zealand manufacturers must undoubtedly give a lead in standarisation in consona.nos with New Zealand conditions. If .standards above New Zealand- qualifications .were set it might 'mean. further unemployment. ■Mr I. Woolf (Canterbury) said that Dr. Marsden had made several visits to Canterbury factories and had maoe some very valuable suggestions.

Mr lE. W.: Ackland (Wellington) referred to the great economies made possible by the standardisation within limits of - electric lamps. Some years ago there were no fewer than 700 kinds of lamps. Now in the whole world there were only 67. The result was that the prices were greatly reduced.

Mr J. T. Spears referred to the need for the cheek on standards on certain imported products, One even found Government Departments Issuing specifications without finally insisting on the standards specified, Messrs J, Burn and J, T, Spears were appointed delegates to * conferwith Dr. Marsden and his officers regarding standardisation in the engineering trade.

PRESENTATION. ;

• A presentation of. a gold cigarette case was made to Mr F. Campbell, of Wellington, retiring: ■ prestfdentv-.Refer-ence to Mr during his term, of office was made by the newly-elected' president, Mr G. f inri, of Auckland, who also mentioned that it intended to present Mrs'Campbell with a handbag made in - New Zealand of New Zealand lea-; ther. '/ ... ’

COAL CARBONISATION.

Use of the Dominion’s coal resources for coal carbonisation was referred to when Mr F. Campbell spoke of the belated consideration being given by the Government to the proposal to dstablish a company in Southland for cbhl carbonisation purposes. Mention was made to similar companies which had started operations in the Waikato’

According to the discussion the Southern company was desirous of oh-, taining a contract with a Government, Department, for if that was done, a. considerable amount of British capital would : be forthcoming to put the work in hand.

Mr Campbell said the Federation had written to Cabinet stressing the point that from an economic and employment point of view the Federation believed the proposed industry offered a splendid opportunity for the development of one of the Dominion’s natural; resources, and it considered the Government should do what it could to encourage such a company to commence operations.

Mr G. W. Reid (Dunedin) agreed that the Federation should encourage the general principle of establishing the industry, but they should make -no attempt.to coerce the Government into giving a contract. Reference to a scheme which was promoted and was to operate in the Hutt Valley was made by Mr E>. W. Ackland (Wellington), who said it wap dropped owing to the attitude of Labour, who apparently wanted to make a better bargain. The financial crisis then came, and the legislation was dropjjed. The Government had not given it much encouragement, and it would help if the Federation! would endorse it to the extent that the Government should encourage new industries.

Mr Campbell agreed that it was a pity the Hutt Valley scheme was not gone on with. It was considered that in writing to the Cabinet tlie Federation had done all it should, and the discussion ended.