PRODUCTIVE POWER OF N.Z STRANGLED

Chronicle (Levin), 11 May 1946, Page 5

PRODUCTIVE POWER OF N.Z STRANGLED

WELLINGTON, May 10. | "We have a picture of a potentially i ■ rich country being the victim of a re- ! stricted. economy and having the will j and rneans to expand its industry and j activities but being" unable to do so be- j cause its produetive power is strangled i by the • 1-ack of numbers and materials j which greater numheTS could produce," | said Mr. W. J. McKeon, president of 1 the New Zealand Institute of Archi- 1 tects, in submissions to the Population Committee- to-day. Even when all re- 1 turned personnel were absorhed, he said, there would still' be an insufficient popu- J lation to cope with the - enormous de- j mand which had accumulated and was j heid in cheek by shortages of material t and other restrictions," • j "AVe are in need of young, _ virilei. citizens from our homeland, Britain," he continued. " \ATe need tliose sturdy, indepeiident people from the northern i countries, Danes, Hwedes and Norwegians, from the United States and any country whose people are eapable of hard work and good citizenship. " Remarking that New Zealand had first to house the community, Alr. McI Keon said every iinmigrant family of j proved worth would be a subject of a ] service providing employment i'or others and, in return, giving servixie and abilities to the community.. Increased numbers would reduce taxation and raise the spendiag power.

"New Zealand might not have such a luckv escape in another war,''' declared Mr. AlcKeon, who. asked,, ' ' If we do not iill our empty spaces -what right have we to deny our fair acres to those 'who must expand and may have the lust to conquer? It should be -the priority task of this generation to see that our objective. of full population , and security is achieved. The Government iiousing. scheme had not solved the housing problem nor did the types of dwellings e.ncourage reason■ably sized families. The shortages could be over taken by private enterprise and a restricted State programnie. It ■ was suggested taxation should be reduced allowing industri.es allied to building to expand and instal more plant and employ more labour; that the. saies tax shoul'd be removed fi-om building materials;. that a greater demand for brieks at a lower cost be created to conserve timber; that the individual be encouraged to build 4iis - own home; and that controls be reduced to a minimum and import restrictions- on essential materials which could not be made economic ally in New Zealand, be reviewed. The Select Committee has adjourned l its hearing until June 5". The cliairman, Mr. Thorn, said inquiries would ■ be | made, about Australia 's immigration scheme and the scope of inquiries made by pTospective migrants at the New Zealand High Commissioner 's office in London.