EDUCATING M.P.’S

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1921, Page 11

EDUCATING M.P.’S

NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURES.

WELLINGTON EXHIBITION,

In view of the forthcoming revision of the customs tariff, an exhibition of New Zealand manufactures for the instruction of members of Parliament is being organised. It will be held in Wellington Town Hall, opening on October 22. The following circular is being passed to manufacturers throughout the Dominion: “The primary ■ object of the exhibition is to educate the members of Parliament in what is actually produced in New Zealand. Personally conducted parties of members of the House Will be arranged on a definite programme by the Department of Industries. The exhibition will also be open to the general public, and a special effort will be made to attract the colleges and secondary schools. We require, and must have, the assistance of every manufacturer in the Dominion in our effort, and the occasion is of such importance that no industry must be left unrepresented. “It has been many years since the tariff was revised, and it may be equally long before another revision may take place. As you are aware, a Tariff Commission set up by the Government, consisting largely of customs officials, has been round the country making inquiries, and the Minister for Industries has also visited many manufactories, but this exhibition will bring before the members of Parliament, who will really decide upon what is to be done, the actual goods manufactured, in a form that they can see, handle, and discuss. Graphs are being prepared showing the value of each product of each New Zealand industry, and the value of the imports of the same articles; also showing how many more people could be employed and sustained if the entire product was manufactured here.” The matter was discussed at the last meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association. Ko PERSONAL ADVERTISING. The chairman, Mr. C. J. Ward, said that trade associations would select exhibits from their various members, and there would be no advertising of a personal nature, the object being simply to assist in the framing of a tariff of the kind required to support Dominion secondary industries. Manufacturers who were not members of trade associations would have to be dealt with separately. Some arrangements would have to be made to prevent duplication in the cases of competing manufacturers. Circulars and plans had been sent to industrial associations and to trade associations. The Auckland and Dunedin Industrial Associations had set up committees to interview manufacturers and make the necessary arrangements.

It was proposed that the soldiers engaged in. manufacturing goods under t. e repatriation scheme should be allowed to exhibit and sell their goods during the exhibition.

Mr. Ward said that already there was competition for stands, which would be 6ft. and. 12ft. deep. The cost would be about £2 per foot if the association erected the stands, or £1 per foot if the exhibitors erected the stands. It was proposed by the Department of Industries and Commerce that members of Parliament should be shown round the exhibition m systematic manner, so that none of the educative value of the display might be lost. No charge would be made for the admission of the public. TRADES COUNCIL’S CO-OPERATION. The association, added Mr. Ward, had been asked to co-operate with the Trades and Labor Council in another exhibition of New Zealand goods. This second exhibition would be of an ordinary advertising kind, but its special purpose Wfculd be to boost New Zealand manufacturers. It would -be apart from the Tariff Exhibition. The Trades and Labor Council had offered to give a guarantee of £250, and the industrial associations would be asked to assist.

Members of the committee suggested that ‘the attempt to prevent personal advertising at the Tariff Exhibition would create difficulties. Some goods would not be shown in their usual form without ad ertising the makers. Other goods were not distinctive, in themselves, but manufacturers would wish to identify themselves with their products. Mr. Ward said that goods would have to be shown in the form in which they were sold to the public. The trade associations could arrange impersonal exhibits, but individual manufacturers would expect to get the advertising value of their displays. It would he im possible to show many goods without their customary labels. The point was held over.for consideration' in the light of later developments.