AUCKLAND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, October 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 313, 3 November 1888, Page 3

AUCKLAND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, October 30.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Industrial Association was held at the Assocition's Rooms, Wyndham-sfcreet, last even" ing. There was only a moderate attendance of members. Mr G. Fraser occupied the chair. Tho Chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the objects of the Association and the progress made during its existence. He stated that the thin eqd of the protection wedge had been inserted during tho last sitting of Parliament, and it was for the members of tho Association to exert themselves and not remain satisfied until the wedge was driven homo. What was wanted was unity, and with the view of strengthening this organisation it was decided'to alter tho name of the Association to "The Auckland Branch ot the Industrial and Protection League of New Zealand." Some were averse to the alteration but he (Mr Fraser) thought that it would greatly help to strengthen the cause, for now in all the principal towns of the colony thete was a branch established ; and it was hoped that the battle so well begun would be continued *iill the desired succe-s was gained. Mr Fraser also hoped that on eveiy opportunity throughout the entire length and breadth of the colony, where any candidate put up for a seat in Parliament, members would only give support to those who supported thcii cause.

Ri-reoKT. — Mr E. S. Mowbray (Secreraiy) lead the second annual, repoit as tollows :—: —

Gentlemen, — Your Committee present tho becond annual report ot tie Industiial Afsociation with feelings ot a far move hopeful nature than those which inspired them two years ago, when the members as-embled to receivo the first repot t on the object* of the Association, and the means proposed for disseminating its opinions and extendir q its influence. We all then felt and spoke as those who, while themselves conscious of the integrity of their cause, and earnest in their endeavours to influence public opinion in the right direction, yeb felt that the task before them was of the most arduous description, if uot perhaps a hopeless one. To lead the general public in the direction towards which our convictions pointed, it was necessary to bear down a hose of prejudices, to break the bonds of established custom and the slavish usages of fashion, and besides this to combat the serried ranks of powerful and wealthy combinations, banded together by selfish iuteiests — the whole body of importers, shipping rings, and other strong "monieel bodies. Now, after the comparatively short period of two years, we already see the first laysofthe halo of success, which must eie long crown our .efforts, provided only .the people of this country who are interested in the success of our endeavours do, but continue to support us in the future as in the past. All who have the true interests of the country at heart, all who are interested in its material progress and the development of its resources, we claim as naturally affiliated with our Association, and to all such it must be most gratifying to view the present status we have attained, and to note the vast change which has already come over public opinion. Opponents have been conciliated, prejudices are yielding to conviction ; customs founded on unreasoning habits of the silly dictates of fashion, so called, are giving placo to patriotic endeavours to encourage the nascent industries of our own country, and, as a direct change in public opinion, the General Assembly itself has been compelled to give earne&t attention to our representatives. Referring to the first report of this Association, members will find the greatest stress was laid upon the importance of an Industrial Exhibition, to be afterwards merged into a permanent sample room of the products of local, or rather Ne«v Zealand industries and manufactures, a3 a prime agent for the removal oi prejudices and the conciliation of opinion. The wisdom of the course ot action then laid down has been fully borne out by results. The industrial exhibitions held in this building on two successive years have proved invaluable in educating * public opinion to the views ot the Association, and a permanent sample 100 m it. of great and growing use in combating prejudice and inci easing the use and consumption of New Zealand' industry and pioducts. Your Committee has spared no exortions in the direction of obtaining a revision of the tariff in the interests of local industries, and has to the fullest extent of its power assisted kindred associations in working to this much-de-sired end. As you are aware, a conference of tho industrial and protection societies ot New Zealand was held during the month ot March last in Wellington for the purpose of considering such a revision of the tariff as we held to be necessary for the establishment of our industries on a sound basis, and at this conference your delegate, Mr H. M. Shepherd, pre&ided, to whom the thanks of this Association are greatly due for the time and trouble spent on our behalf. Although there are many anomalies in the present tariff, taken as a whole we consider that the objects after which we have been striving have, to a certain extent, been gained, and we have every reason to hope that each session of Parliament will see further alterations and modifications made in the tariff which will enable us to compete against imported goods. A very able leading article in the Auckland Evening Star of 11th October, in reference to the exodus of p >pulation, merits much notice from all who are interested in the advancement of the colony. It says : " The exodus of people from this colony, which has been proceeding for some time past, must have been painfully apparent to all who have the -welfare of the country at heart. It has now been ascertained that since the beginning of the year the excess of emigration over immigration has been 9,340, which figures of course represent the loss to the colony. These figures are very ominous in deed when considered in the light of recent political events. Such an event was predicted years ago, and it was urged again and again that the only method by which we could retain our population was the adoption of a policy of encouragement to our industries by means of protection, and a land system that would settle the population which had been previously employed upon public works. Our -loss has been a manifest gain- to Victoria, where protection has been of such value in stimulating industries and manufactures, and giving employment to a large population, that several of the neighbouring colonies are already taking a leaf from her book \ and modelling their. fiscal policies on somewhat similar lines.'" In respect to manufactories, works, etc., your Committee would point out ' that in the year 1886, there was £11,000,000 invested in manufactories in Victoria, employing 50,000 hands, and producing goods to the value of £20,000,000 pev annum, and that people settled on the land, and trade, together increased the population to a million souls; ond New Zealand, a far superior country to yictdria, had in the same year only 2,268 faolories, etc., employing 25,655 hands, or

during the five years from 1881 fco 1886, New Zealand spent £2,091,646 in manufactories, etc., employing 7,727 hands. This shows the fallacy of free^ trade in New Zealand, and what advantages Victoria has derived from her protective policy, a country far inferior in natural advantages to New Zealand/ The depression in New Zealand is now very great, and it is noticeable that the most acute depression prevails in those countries whose Governments retain the policy of free trade, England has no less than 7,000,000 of paupers kept by the State, and most of these are in this position through want of employment. Although we export largely, the balance of trade is still greatly against the colony ; £42,500, 000 ~ worth of goods, have been imported in excess of exports. In other words, we have consumed that amount more than we have produced without deducting the amount of exports belonging? to absentees, when the figures would ba nearly, doubled ; consequently we are not and are going irom bad to worse every year. With a uniform protective tariff (alter which your Committee arc anxiou.-ly striving) manufactories of all descriptions could be started here, but in a free- trade country there are Loo many difficulties to contend'with, principally that of the importers, who have the command and the monopoly of the local market. A man starts a factory, invests hi& capital and commences to get custom by selling his manufactures at the market price, or lower, but the im potter, finding his trade decreasing, puts his prico still lower, for the purpose of crushing the manufacturer, and when he ha& succeeded in this he raises his priced again. So-called free-traders are very wi : ath at the first win of the protectionists' party scored— the first &tcp towaidfc thac end which will eventually <.>reatly help to lift this country out of the mire, and say that freight, insurance, etc., is, or ought to be, ample protcctino. This is a meic nothing when you compare the ijigh wages and salaries paid heie and the low ones paid in Europe, and also Ihe diilerence in the hours of labour. From lecent statistics we find that the averasre wages paid to operatives of all kinds in England is about £35 per head per annum, and the average wages paid here for all kinds of trades is about three times as much as on the Continent of Euiope, and one and a half times more than is paid in England for a day's work of eight hours. The great cry of the fiee-trader is, that before our industries can be successfully established, our workmen must come down to the level of the poorly - paid artisans of England and Europe. But if« we do that, what guarantee have we that f .hey will not w,ant us to come down to the level of the slave hordes of Asia ? It is for tho working classes to decide whether they will return to the long hours of Europe, or whether sufficient Customs tariff shall be placed on impoLtcd goods which would make up the difference. A laige number of farmers are against a protective policy, but let them inquire into tho United States, Canada, and Victoria, ■and they will find the farmers strong protectionists. Your Committee would also affirm that the aeseition, made often by those opposed to a protective policy, that protection has seldom, if ever, been of ultimate u=e to the workers, although it may make masters millionaires — is entirely incorroct and misleading,-— as we find that in Great Britain 20 per cent, of the production goes to the working classes, 41 per cent, to capital, and 39 per cent, to the Government ; in the United States 72 per cent, goes fco the working classes, 23 per cent, to capital, and s per cent. totheGovernment. Comment is needless. The colonies, including South Australia, have all tried the " buy in the cheapest market " system, with most disastrous results. South Australia stuck to foreign trade until her population began to desert her, and her property became unsaleable. She has now adopted protection, and hopes soon to become as prosperous as hei more .fortunate neighbour, Victoria. It is a very wrong impression, which many people hold, that England improved her commerce and accumulated great wealth because of her tree trade policy. It cannot be stated too often that, coeval with the inauguration of the free trade policy in England, came the improvement in existing and the introduction of new machinery, which enabled her to increase her output a thousandfold. This, taken in connection with the expenditure of over nine hundred millions sterling in raUwaj s, found abundant employment for all her people, so that it was impossible for her to do otherwise ,than thrive. Now the '' boom " is over she is beginning-bo realise the'blighting eilects of .a tiee trade policy. The grand mobto of the free traders, " Buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market,"' which has been refened to so often in thi a colony, simply means that the merchants arc to purchase goods manufactured at starvation wages, and sell them in New Zealand at the highest possible price. Your Committee have here to state that history records no such industrial progress as has been made in the United States during the past twenty i years. The present popularity and strength in their protective system lie in the prosperity it has given the nation, in the great industrial cities it has built up. in the piosperous and diversified industries it has founded, in the profitable home market it has given its farmeis, in the varied i employment it has given the men and youths of the country. In all that goes to make a nation strong and prosperous ; in all that goes to make a country gieat and independent ; in all that goes to broaden the horizon of the labourer, increase his earnings, cheapen the cost of what ho buys, and improve his condition — in all this lies the strength of the protective system, and, gentlemen, our tariff may undergo many changes, but let us hope always towards protection ; and let us be firm in our support to, and firm in the convictions of our loading leaders ; let us not recur to the " early colonial system " nor be seduced by any Manchester school of free traders, charm they never so cunningly. The Secretary has prepared a statement of receipts and expenditure, together with a balance-sheet which is available for your information, showing the income for the past year to be £176 lls Id, and expenditure £142 11s 9d, leaving a profit for the year of £33 19s 4d, The balance-sheet shows our liabilities to be £23 3s 6d, and your Committee hope that before long this will also be extinguished. As will be seen upon referring to the receipts for past year the membership has not been as large as we expected, but we trust that the present financial year now commencing will greatly increase our numbers. During the past year 40 Committee meetings have been hold, and been fairly well attended. Tho hearty i thanks of this Association are due to Mr Andrew Bell for his kindness and generosity in placing the two floors of this building at their disposal for the past 18 months free of charge. Mr Bell has not only been put to great inconvenience and trouble, but has willingly given his time and assistance towards carrying out the objects of the Association. As Mr Bell is not a manufacturer, but has only the genei'al welfare and prosperity of the country at heart, the services he has rendered the Association in every way are deserving of great praise. Our thanks are also due to Sir George Grey for his handsome 'donation

towards the funds of the Association, and to the Auckland Burns Club for the manner in which they have assisted us in defraying our printing debts. In conclusion, your } Committee have to state that the name of this Association was, at a general meeting called for that purpose, altered to read "The Auckland Branch of the Industrial and Protection League of New Zealand," the members of this and kindred associations being of the opinion that unity on their part would greatly strengthen their hands in etfcry way. l Mr Gee proposed, and Mr Pye seconded, the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. Balance-sheet. - The balance-sheet was read by Mr Mowbray, and showed a debit balance of £23 3s 6d.— Mr Masefield, in moving its adoption, drew attention to the small item of £8 2s 6d for subscriptions, and added that if members would only put their shoulders to the wheel *<he Association should not be in debt. Ab matters stood, it was highly creditable to the Committee and the Secretary for keeping expenses .so low as they had been. — Mr Gee seconded the motion, which was carried. Thanks. — The following resolution was moved by Mr Geo. Fraser :— " That the best thanks ot this Association be tendered to the different protectionist papers which have so ably advocated the establishment of a protective policy for New Zealand." In proposing j the resolution, Mr Fraser stated that he I had "to specially mention the Auckland Star, whose able leading articles on the subject of protection had done much for the Association, and for the s*ooil of the colony. — Mr Pye seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Ojmtckrs.— Oificers for the ensuing year weie elected as follows : — President : A. Bell. Vice - Presidents : Messrs J. Brown and T. Gee. Committee : Messrs T. Bach, C. Campbell, R. Cranwell, R. T. Cartwright, M. Cook, P. Derbyshire, G. Fraser, W. Hampton, D. JETyauison, J. Jones, T. T. Masefield, R. R. Menzies, N. McMillan, S. McCoskrie, J. McLachlan, JR. Porter, J. Pye, R. Polgrain, Adam Porter, H. M.- Shepherd, Chas. Smith, P. Smith, W-. Service, J. Trenwith, S. Vaile, J. Wilson and J. Winks. This concluded the business.