DOMINION'S COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1919, Page 5

DOMINION'S COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.

PROPOSED MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Sub-committees of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and of the Industrial Association recently met for the consideration of the proposal that a Minister of Industries and Commerce should lie appointed. That conference resolved that the time had come when the industrial and commercial interests of the Dominion must, he placed under the 'control of a separate Minister. It was further resolved to recommend: "That the Minister in charge of this department shall not hold any other portfolio, but devote his whole time to the interests of his department in developing industry and commerce within the Dominion, and report wlien opportunity for such developments occurred.'' "That the Minister shall have under his sole charge a competent and duly qualified staff of officers for the proper conduct of his department, with power to accept the services of such private persons as, in the opinion of the Minister, could render service to the Crown in promoting the industrial and commercial development of our national life." The sub-committee in Canterbury of the Industrial Union has submitted a scheme (for submission to the Government) for the creation of a Board of Science and Industry and the creation of a new portfolio—a Ministry of Science and Industry—the Minister to be chairman of the board, which should also comprise a salaried director at not less than ,€ISOO per annum. Then we committee advocated that a sum of not less than £ 100,000 should be voted by Parliament to cover the expenditure for five years, and four local advisory committees—at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. arid Dunediii—should be appointed-.