FEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES. Founded in 1916, as a national organization to voice the sectional views of industry, this federation differs from other important com mercial organizations in restricting its membership to manu facturers or producers, and such as serve their needs. The mem bers number nearly 2,800 manufacturing firms and 18o asso ciations, which represent all the leading British industries. The federation was recognized in 1923 by the grant of a Royal Charter.
The aims and objects of the federation are adequately summa rized in the statement that whatever affects the interests of British industry, at home or abroad, falls within its scope. It does not, however, deal with questions affecting rates of pay or conditions of labour, nor does it intervene in any matter of purely political party controversy.
The direction of policy is in the hands of a grand council, elected annually. For the purpose of this election, members are divided into 24 main groups, representing the main industries of Great Britain, and the groups in turn into sub-groups, each sub group covering a subdivision or trade within the industry. The sub-group is the unit for electing the council, receiving representa tion proportional to the number of workpeople employed by its members. An executive committee, of about 'co representatives, meeting monthly, deals with the less important and more urgent questions, and this too is elected upon a similar proportional basis, the unit in this case being the main group.
Members are organized also upon a geographical basis : the country has been divided into 13 districts, each with a resident secretary serving under a district chairman and committee, and with a representative upon the grand council and executive corn mittee.
The federation, being thus organized both by industrial groups and by districts, is enabled rapidly to obtain its members' views upon matters affecting either trades or localities.
The federation has ready access to Ministers and Government departments, with whom it is in continual consultation upon in dustrial legislation, and gives evidence to all official committees or Royal Commissions reviewing questions of industrial impor tance. Special committees are engaged in considering taxation as it affects industry, and in advising members upon civil defence, government contracts, and on local rating.
The federation has also constantly to negotiate on behalf of industry with other sections of the community. In conjunction with other important organizations it formed a traders' co ordinating committee, to co-ordinate the views of industry and commerce in negotiations with the railway companies, and before the Railway Rates Tribunal : to this committee the head of the federation's transport department serves as secretary. Similarly, a shipping committee discusses with the shipping conferences questions of freights and shipping facilities, and a contracts com mittee confers with municipalities and other large contractors in order to standardize conditions of contracts.
Similar questions affecting Empire trade are dealt with by the Empire committee.
Internationally, the federation has close relations with the na tional industrial federations in other countries. Visits are ex changed with foreign industrialists, and valuable conversations held upon questions of common interest.
Apart from this "policy" work, much attention is devoted to rendering direct services to individual members. Highly qualified experts are in charge of departments dealing with insurance and editorial publicity, in addition to these already mentioned—taxa tion, rating, fuel economy, railway transport, shipping—and are prepared to advise upon individual problems as well as upon more general questions. Similarly, an intelligence department is engaged in the supply of statistical and other information, the most important of which concern import and currency restrictions.
Notable assistance is given to exporters by the overseas organi zation. In addition to its home staff, it is represented in all parts of the world by duly qualified representatives, who recommend suitable agents, supply reports on market conditions, forward in formation upon tariffs, compose difficulties with customers, and generally facilitate export trade.
Assistance is given to members desiring to visit foreign markets, by introductions, by obtaining passports, and by settling the de tails of their itinerary. Advice is also given in regard to overseas exhibitions.
The federation issues a journal—British Industries—monthly.
(D. L. W.)