The New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, founded in 1897, acts as the “mouthpiece” and the advocate of most New Zealand manufacturing industries, and is concerned with aiding, fostering and encouraging their establishment and development. It deals with the New Zealand Customs Tariff as it affects rates of duty and classification of goods, and also with import licensing, both of raw materials and of plant for industry, as well as with imports of manufactured goods. All legislation which affects manufacturers is studied and, where necessary, representations are made to protect or further the interests of manufacturers. The federation watches, among other things, labour and factory legislation, price control, and the Trade Practices Act, health regulations, and shipping and transport problems.