BRITISH RAW MATERIAL FOR DOMINION

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1946, Page 8

BRITISH RAW MATERIAL FOR DOMINION

-Press Association

AS MTJCH HELP AS POSSIBLE PROMISED

Bv Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Sept. 4. ■ British industry is making every cui dBavour to give the Dominiou as mucn essential raw materials as possible, saiu Mr- F. R. Pieot, Commissipner oi Snpply, oii his return to Auckland on t'jie flving boat New Zeiiland, altei visiting the United Kingdom lo investi gate supply matters. 11 e stated mdustl'y. in the* United Ivingdom was tai behind its programme in manufacture because of the shortage of raw' materials. He felt, however, that New Zealand was receiving a fair share of export.s from that, country, and he statou he wouhl be reporting to Cabinet about supplies of steel, tinplate, paper'and ati types of textiles. " Discussing manufacturing problems in- the United Kingdom, Mr. Pieot saui in spite of the speeding up of dejnobilision, industry was finding itseir unable to increase its labour force of slcilled and semi-skilled men by new recrnits, at a rate sufticient to conipensaxe it for natural losses. These losscs were due to old age aml wastage, and tlie.v had been experieneed to the greatesi extent in the chemical and steel iinlus-

Iries. Mr. Pieot added that shortages oi .-oal were effecting production in tlie United Kingdom. Many industries, ne said, had been vvarned that tliey must govem their output by the supplies oi coal which will be ava'ilable this winter. Lh an endeavour to save 150,000 to 200j000 tons of eoal yearly, many plants were eonverting their lieating plants to the use of oil fuel, but this procedure was a long oue and the aetiun of switciii»g was a heavy strain upon machinery pi'"0xluetio3q'v Brifaiji was,,exp.orting coai tb .mnlylf^ie- pok^tri^l iT'Oi^ wlxicii ii reY^dvitMir^eit^iK ess'eMtiai ebniniqdities. irt'^ p-ply siifiicient. qua'ntitiesjof /Uo£tl :to :8weden was prejudil'ing - imirlitatioiiis gbf ■ -pulp, and .paper-pro-

duets fro'm that country. Mr. Pieot stated that manufacturers were experiencing mueh difiieulty in their efforts to keep prices low. Leading industrialists, including Lord Nurfleld, had expressed concern at the rising costs of goods. It was conteiicleu prosperity or disaster depeiuled upon their ability to hold prices down. In spite of .11 the difiiculties experieneed, Mr. Pieot said, exports from tne United Kingdom had shown an ainazing increase. This, however, was largety ai the expense of the local trade anu tliere would come a timo wlien the local clitinour would demand a greater share oi production. Evidence of this was ai- { ready showing itself in the textile 111 j dustry where rationing was still being strietly carried out. Approximately SU ■ per cent. of woollen goods were stiii being mauufactured for local use undei austerity eonditions.