The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1913. NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 49, 29 October 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1913. NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES.

The annual conference of the Xew Zealand Industrial Corporation, a federation of Industrial Associations, will be opened at Wellington on Friday. The annual report of the Corporation gives a summary of industrial progress during the year. Referring to the shortage of skilled labor it is pointed out that the investigations of Mr J, W. Collins of the Labor Depart-

ment, recently laid before Parliament, not only showed where labor shortage existed, hut the classes of bauds required, the rate of wages offered, and the hours o femplovmeut. The reportalso dealt with the number of machines idle on account of lack of hands, and showed what attempts had beer, made by employers by means of advertisement and otherwise to remedy the shortage. The report goes on

to say: ‘‘Now that the Government has actual proof that this shortage does exist, and that it is not only agricultural laborers who arc required in the Dominion, it is to he hoped that the High Commissioner in London will he asked to select from applicants for assisted passages skilled workers for our factories.” Touching on necessary Customs Tariff Revision it is stated that deputations waited on the Minister, who gave his assurance that ho will carefully Consider the claims of the Corporation when bringing forward his Customs Tariff Revision Bill. The Minister has further stated that lie is fully alive to the necessity of adequate protection being a Horded manufacturers. “Tl must he admitted that our legislators have all along given the

fullest attention to the primary indus-' tries of lire Dominion. It has repeatedly hoen claimed, and rightly so, by the industrial associations, that-no country can become really great it itj depends upon its primary industries alone. The greatness of America’s trade was founded upon a Customs tariff which was high enough to actually prohibit the importation of goods; which her own manufacturers could j make. Wo do not go so far as to ask the Government for this, but 'ive do ask, and surely, in all fairness, for. sufficient protection to enable our manufacturers to compete on level terms with the manufacturers of other countries. The Government of the United States of America has lately passed a Customs Tariff Revision Bill which will further benefit our farmers. In referring to this, let it he stated that we, as manufacturers, welcome the news, for the good of the country. We, however, consider that those members of Parliament representing the farming interests should now more readily see that our manniac-j turers obtain something which is actually required—facilities for output. The U.S.A. Bill referred to, which is reported as having been passed, removes the former high tariff, allows the free importation of wool into the States.”