EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 228, 19 September 1908, Page 6

EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the Nov I'lymoutn Employers Association was held last night in tile Town Hail. Mr.. 11. Uoodaere (president) presided over a moderate attendance. , Si IiUESTED UIANUE OF NAME. T. 11. Penn, secretary of the Taranaki Dairying and Fanning Indi.sirial Union ol Employers forwarded tiie Unions annual subscription, and added: "Tilre president wishes iue to nisike the suggestion that it would be hi tile interesis of the Association if tile name were altered from 'New Plymouth' to "J'aranaki.' There is aot very much in a name, perhaps, but the point was raised in connection witn our joining, and it will probably have some k'll'ect in restricting membership." Mr A. .Morton attenu.nl as repr csenting tlie Union.

Mr T. Avery gave notice to move at next meeting to alter the name accordingly. AUIHTKATION ACT. The proposed amendments of tile Arbitration Act were reierrcd to the Parliamentary Committee to consider, tinir rccommeiulnions to he forwarded direct to Mr. 11. Okey, M.P., and the secretary of the Employers' Federation. ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

-Mr. .J. Wiiitaker, the secteiary, was elected delegate to the annual conference, and it was decided to Olier the Taranaki Dairying and Fanning Union of Employers of appointing- a delegate from its ranks. NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS. Mr. A. L. Humphries wrote:—"The New Plymouth Seaside Improvement Committee are arranging to hold a monster picnic on New If ear's Day, and a sports meeting on the following day and to make tlie gatherings more attractive the committee are endeavoring to obtain the visit of a warsiirp arid tiie training ship Amokura. The object of my committee is to make New Plymouth as attractive as possible during the Cliristimns holidays and by so doing induce people from other parts to visit us. Saould this object be obtained it is only reasonable to expect that it will benefit New Plymouth greatly. 1 V have therefore been instructed t»i ask if your Association will assist by recommending the townspeople to close on January 2 and thus help my committee to make . the undertaking a iluge success." )ln the discission which ensued it was pointed out that the plan of observing the two holidays at New Year had been adopted here lor tire past two years. It was decided to refer the matter to the presidents of the various alliliated trades associations for recommendations. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR.

Mr. Morton moved—"That tills Association expresses its congratulations to the chairman and mcmbprg of the New Plymouth Harbor Board upon llie ,Suocessful passing of the JJew Plymouth Hanbor lioaj'd Empowering mil, and trusts that at the poll to be shortly taken the ratepayers will by their voting further emphasise then* appreciation of the work done and their continued belief in tin; permanent benefit to the district which will be obtained through tile "increased facilities to be gained by the iiarbor extension." Mr. Morton said he had great pleasure in submitting the motion, as a representative of the farming industry. lie could assure tile meeting that the farmers were very strong indeed in their desire for harbor extension. The tradesmen felt the want of it, but the fanner also felt the want very keenly indeed. The farmers would be the gainers by the extension of the harbor. They were looking forward in the next five years to ship their produce direct from Now Plymouth. In five years, reasoned Mr. Morton, the vxport trade would have so increased that it would be found, if not absolutely necessary, at least advisable, to put on a boat to take away the produce from here. He was referring, of course, to the dairy produce, of which he was competent to speak. There was also the meat export to consider, but that was not within his province. Mr. Goodacre seconded the motion, and referred to tile harbor extension as Taranaki's moat vital need. The people—the consumers—now had to pay more for their goods than would he the case with better shipping accommodation, for it had to be borne in mind tlmt. the importers and merchants charged l.w to tlie consumer for every 10s they expended in freights anil clrargns. The consiimi>r„i , ;i town and country had to pay that, of course, but it was an indirect taxation, and people seemed disposed to bear any amount of indirect taxation. The farmers were doubly penalised by tile want of proper harbor facilities, for they were producers, exporters, |ntml consumers. The motion was carried.