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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Committee's Report

Committee's Report.

The Secretary (Mr Andrews) read the seventh annual report of the Committee, as follows:—

"Your Committee have great pleasure in submitting their report for the year ending August 12, 1886—Since the last annual meeting, your Committee have held twenty nine meetings, one only of which lapsed for want of a quorum, besides numerous meetings of sub-Committees appointed to consider various special subjects. By this you will perceive that your Committee have been constantly and earnestly engaged in carrying on the work of the Association. In addition to the above, six special general meetings have been held in our own rooms, all of which have been well attended. It is satisfactory to notice that the present Government is displaying a strong desire to advance local industries, by stipulating in their contracts that both the material used and the work done, shall, where practicable, be Colonial, and the Association may fairly point to this as the result of repeated representations made with a view to obtaining this end. Many other public bodies are also following in the steps of the Government in this respect. But it must not, therefore, be assumed that the work of the Association in this matter is finished, as it will be found very necessary in the future to carefully and jealously watch all specifications so that no impracticable conditions may be allowed to creep into them, to the detriment of our Colonial manufacturers. It is also very gratifying to feel that the public are awakening to the urgent necessity which exists for purchasing goods made or produced in the Colony. Although the depression which prevailed at the end of our last financial year is still unabated, your Committee are able to point to several new industries which have started in various parts of the Colony, such as nickel plating, galvanizing metals, cardboard box-making, and ink in the Canterbury district, cement in Auckland and Dunedin, and cocoa and chocolate manufactured from the imported beans also in Dunedin, to which may be added a new departure in the boot trade, which has been mainly brought about by the action of your Committee in obtaining the remission of duty on the raw material used in the manufacture. Your Committee greatly regret that while cement is being successfully made in Auckland and Dunedin, Canterbury should fall bo far behind in the matter, although the largest consumer of the article in New Zealand. Is it to be attributed to apathy and want of enter- page 6 prise amongst those who should take a prominent part in such an industry? It will be remembered the last annual report recommended that more suitable premises should be obtained, and your Committee feel assured members will agree that the present rooms are in all respects a great improvement, being large, light and centrally situated, while the rent is considerably less than previously paid; but the question of obtaining a permanent Industrial Hall has not been lost sight of. Several interviews with Ministers have taken place during the year, with a view of getting an amount placed on the Estimates for the purpose of purchasing a piece of land for the objects of the Association; while individual members of the House have also promised to assist in obtaining the same, With better accommodation, it was felt that local manufacturers should be invited to send samples of their various products for display in the rooms. This was done, and fairly well responded to. It is, however, hoped that many more will avail themselves of this privilege, which, while it serves to make the rooms more attractive, also greatly benefits the manufacturers, by bringing their productions prominently before the public who visit the rooms, and who are, in many respects, totally ignorant of what is being done here. It is very much to be regretted that little or no good has resulted to this district from the steps taken last year to send a delegate to the South Sea Islands. In order to disseminate the valuable information thus obtained, the Association printed, with the last annual report, Mr T. Pavitt's interesting and exhaustive report of his visit to those Islands. These were widely distributed amongst manufacturers and the commercial community generally, but although there appeared a good opening for some of our super-abundant stocks, with the prospects of remunerative prices, no advantage was taken of it, until at last the owners of the Janet Nicoll discontinued to run the steamer to the South Island for want of sufficient inducement in the way of freight. Your Committee deeply deplore the apathy and want of enterprise shown by this part of the Colony, as it is well known that a large and moat profitable business is now being done by the North Island, a great deal of which could equally well have been done from here; besides the large amount spent in obtaining the information has literally been thrown away. Tour Committee having been requested to open the rooms for the convenience of members and their friends on Saturday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m., decided to make the experiment. The attendance has hardly been as large as could be desired, but it is hoped, as it becomes more generally known, a large number will avail themselves of the opportunity of making use of the various reports and other literature. During the year the Wellington Industrial Exhibition has been held, and was visited by the President (Mr H. B. Kirk), one of the Vice-Presidents (Mr P. Jenkins), an ex-President (Mr J. L. Scott), and a member of the Committee (Mr B. Buchanan), who represented the Association; this was the first of a series intended to be held in the principal centres of population throughout the Colony with a view to showing what progress is being made in our manufactures and productions. Our Canterbury exhibitors were fairly successful, carrying off 32 silver and 12 bronze medals and 85 certificates of merit. These were presented to the successful exhibitors, at the request of the General Government, by the President of the Association at a special general meeting called for that purpose on June 16. In connection with the Wellington Exhibition, the Government offered three prizes for the three best essays on the 'Industrial resources of New Zealand, and the best means of fostering their development.' One of these was won by a member of this Association, Mr G. K. Hart, and was presented to him by the President at a special general meeting of members called for that purpose. Your Committee think that it is a matter for congratulation that a work which has always had our warmest sympathies, best assistance, and hearty co-operation, is now in a fair way of being carried to a successful issue—the East and West Coast Railway. This has always been looked upon by us as of paramount importance in its bearing on the future welfare of our local industries; it will develop our mineral resources, enable us to utilise our valuable timber forests, and open up a market for our surplus produce, which will be required to feed the thousands who will in all probability be shortly added to those employed in the mining districts of the West Coast. page 7 But while recognising the advantages of the East and West Coast Railway, your Committee have not lost sight of the fact that we have nearer home a district teeming with wealth. Their attention has repeatedly been drawn to the country between Whitecliffs and the Acheron river, and so satisfied are they that minerals in abundance, such as manganese, copper, ironstone, &c., &c., as well as anthracite coal of the very best quality, exist there, that they have asked the Government to place a sum of £10,000 on the Estimates to open up this district. There is also a large tract of agricultural land, unsurpassed in Canterbury, only requiring a moderate outlay to connect it with the present line of railway. As the financial year drew to a close, your Committee decided to make a determined effort to pay off the liabilities of the Association, and, if possible, give up their stewardship with a balance in hand. With this view it was resolved to hold an Industrial Arts Conversazione in the Tuam Street Hall, to consist of arts, science, music, local manufactures and industrial appliances in operation. So far as the conversazione is concerned, it may be considered as an unqualified success. The exhibits of local manufactures were deserving of the highest praise, and the general opinion of the public was not only unanimous approval, but extreme surprise at the excellence to which our manufactures had attained. The musical part of the entertainment also gave unbounded satisfaction. But your Committee are sorry to have to report that the financial success has not been so great as could have been desired. This did not arise from any want of interest by the public, but from the very unfavourable weather experienced, only two days out of the eight, during which the conversazione was kept open, being fine. It is greatly to be desired that the incoming Committee will, during their term of office, continue these gatherings, and that henceforth we may look upon them as part of each year's work. By this means greater interest will be taken in the Association, the objects for which it was formed will be better carried out, and the public will be able to Bee what progress is being made from year to year in our local industries. As a further proof of the sympathy of the public with the objects for which this Association was founded, a very large number of new members were enrolled during the conversazione. During the past year eighty-one new members have been elected, from which it will be seen that the general public are beginning to take more interest in our industries, and that the work of the Association is beginning to be properly appreciated. Appended is the annual balance-sheet, duly audited.

"H. B. Kirk,

President."

The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the year amounted to £160 0s 3d, expenditure £159 10s 2d, leaving a credit balance of 10s 1d. The outstanding liabilities were £16 3s 3d, leaving a deficiency of £15 13s 2d, but against this might be set the furniture, outstanding subscriptions, &c.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, thanked his coworkers on the Committee for their kindness, sympathy and help during his term of office, and specially mentioned the valuable assistance he had received from the vice-President, Mr F. Jenkins. He also thanked the Secretary for the able manner in which be had carried out his duties; He recommended the incoming Officers and the Association to strive to obtain from Government the grant of a site on which to erect an Industrial Hall in Christshurch, where there could be a standing exhibition of the result of the industries of the Colony, a suitable hall for meetings, &c. He referred to the conversazione recently closed. The financial results he considered good, considering the extremely bad weather in which it was held. They would be pleased to learn that £63 had been netted, and the Association's deficit reduced to about £16. This small amount would soon disappear if members would pay up their subscriptions. The present was the first time the Association had held their annual meeting in their own rooms, and he was sure they all appreciated being surrounded by an exhibition of Colonial manufactures and products. One of the last things the Association had done was to send half a ton of New Zealand flax (green) to be experimented on by some Indian process at the request of Mr W. H. Packer. The page 8 sample should, if all goes well, reach London in time to enable Mr Packer to see the trial and bring back the result on his return to Christehurch. He strongly recommended every Colonist to use nothing but articles manufactured and produced here. By so doing they would help to maintain industries at which their children, as they grew up, would find employment. Indeed, an influx of population would be required to do the work, and the farmers would have an increased market for their produce. Colonists should do all in their power to foster and encourage local industries. He concluded his remarks by moving the adoption of the report.

Mr A. G. Howland seconded the motion. He hoped they would be able to obtain a grant towards the erection of an Industrial Hall. It was no more than right that they should have such a grant, not only for Christehurch, but for other towns of the Colony. He considered the report was a very good one, and had pleasure in seconding its adoption.

Mr J. Izett reviewed and criticised the report. He considered it matter for regret that though many new industries had been started in the Colony, none of these had been in Christehurch. He thought the Association should endeavour to foster specially the development of those minerals—iron, manganese, &c.,—which were said to be teeming in the district, so as to avoid the necessity for importation. He did not think the Committee had followed up the South Sea Island matter as they should have done. A meeting of merchants should have been called to give practical effect to Mr Pavitt's recommendations. He noticed that no mention was made of the action the Committee had taken with regard to Messrs Scott Bros. contract and the rejected material. Ble thought the Committee had acted precipitately in this matter. He questioned whether the Committee had done all they could do to secure a full and comprehensive selection of Canterbury exhibits at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition.

Mr T. Danks said Mr Izett had overlooked the manufacture of locomotives as a new industry. He did not think that we could yet start the manufacture of iron, but he thought much progress might be made in the way of galvanising iron, and improving crude imported metals generally. The Association had not the funds, though they had the will, to assist industries as some Associations did elsewhere, by sending trial shipments to new markets. In future years this might be done. Regarding the South Seas, he was assured that all the bacon required in Fiji was exported from Canterbury. This instance showed that the endeavour to extend trade in that direction had not been fruitless.

Mr C. M. Gray considered that the annual report should show the progress of existing industries, such as the woollen manufactures, the coal trade, ironfounding, &c. He believed that the Committee had worked hard, and done more than appeared on the surface, though the report appeared rather bare.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then put and carried.