STATE RESOURCES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1278, 6 November 1911, Page 4

STATE RESOURCES.

.—» . HOW FOSTER THEM ? OPINION OF PrtlME MINISTER. AND A COLLEAGUE. !By Telournnh.-Press Association.) Cliristchurch, November i. The Prime Minister ami thc Hon. ,1. A, Millar visited tho Industrial Exhibition tliis morning, and, after spending somo time in inspecting the exhibits, wore entertained by the Exhibition Executive. Primo Minister's Speech. In respondinu to the toast of "The Goveminent, Un. p,i Illc j|i„j sW Sllil | , h , lt lie Government recognised that it was '"porlaiit that, work done in Now Zeat," 1 /''"'J 1 ' 1 1 -"; n li,, ;> l '"-''ore the eyes of , 'ii'" 0, , ih \\ s WPl ° '"am- ]K»|)lo „,! Tn "?¥ thc of ho ci ; .nlifie skill of ll.oir „ WII nrtisns, and 1- -i ,™ S ''n MI w "! c v;l ' ich t'x'.v could '.'" , i,l " ; '' < .' ; "' 1 ! 1 ! 11 ' U,1U « articles for .',,'nnl L?, ' !>C '" , lln I'T''* wl >' c >> "'CO'll to t,o:-e produced by any country , ! C| : ,*™ felsntl nlw had raw material winch was not surpassed in any country, and, m their railway workshops they produced engines, carria-os and other acre-sorics than which thev'would not see boiler work in any part of tho noi.il. the Government recognised that everything that people required could ba got in the country, but it had taken nuito a lone time io convince those who urged "".Viiiß in the cheapest market oulsida -New Zealand that there was another side to that; question, and that substantial boneuls rosulHl from a local distribution ot money—money which would otherwise BO out of the country. It was only bv a concentration of exhibits, such as had been arrayed by the Trades and Labour Council, that people could be shown what was being produced, and be educated as to the standard of workmanship. Tho exluljiii/jii also formed a valuable example tor the young people, who should be ini-pres'-sd with the desire to encourage New Zealand industries. He congratulated tho manufacturers cf Cliristchurch on the, ugh pitch of perfection to whic 1 - they had brought their maiuifactiires. Iron Industry and the Tariff. Ho did not intend to deal with r. •■ matters except to sav that, from i <■ time., alterations had to take p - . scliemes for the development of a c. and these called lor further altera' > tho assistance Riven to industrie- 1,'.-. Government recognised that, nt so it would require to reconsider I "rilf affecting the importation of coi articles into this country. Ho re :• ■ tariff which had a detrimental local industries and employment. liie iron industry was one wh would like to do something for. of first importance that thev «hc their raw material, and, if they c< the manufacture of iron, steel' at nig-wire on a proper basis in this o . ■. the Government Department* won cure (heir supplies locally, and the C ;- mont would be justified' in giving r ao.e assistance in establishing the ■<■' try on a basis that would give tin results. He had no hesitation in savins th necessary the State itself should do work. ]( ; ironid be a mistake to ! deter making use of the iiiexhaii«!ib'« • plies of iron ore which were available. Tourist Department Praised. Sir Joseph Ward then made rofercne* to the. work of thc Tourist Department, saying that there wore some people who ilul not realise what r. valuable work was being done by it. It had fallen to him to surest its orer.tion, and a gentleman who had considerable knowledge of tho iJpniinion s attractions, was put in charge of it. For n considerable time, however, some people looked upon it as an umicccsrir}\ "''J!" lo ' ,0 tlm other Department*. He had been m a groat many countries, and ho had bton surprised to see tho number of places- which had copied New Zealand. At Honolulu the citizens themfj"!ves raised .from) a year for i Department to do the work of a Tourist •IW- I "'a nt ," U l''F ; present time tho louiist Department in Now Zealand w>i earmns ..KO.OOO a year, and he looked forward to the time when it would repav. out of profits, the whole expenditure in! curred in connection with it. An Official Commended, He referred to this matter in Clm'sfc, church because the Cliristchurch branch, mm the point of view of helping pcoplo to get information and .issuing tickets to t.iem boat every other tourist office in New Zealand. This result was due verv Inrgelv to the active and zealous work done by .Mr. Moon. In Cliristchurch tho amount received for passenger tickets for the three months ended July 31 was ,£2033 which was .CIK/0 more than in any other office in New Zealand. In the succeeding threo months the amount received was £UW, or .£7OO better than any othor office. Railway to Hanmcr, He (the speaker) was persuaded thai it would repay the Government to givo the people greater railway facilities Io get to Hanmcr, Though the Government could not do it at present, he thought that they must have some time a light line of railway to carry people there. Tho people of the South Islam! would not realise the value oj this resort until they could get there by train, not alighting from tho train until they got (here. Tho Government was doing a great deal, by degrees, in matters of this sort, and it should bo recognised that they were building np a public asset. lint some people went round with their arms or cheeks in a sling, and poured out anathemas on the Government for increasing tho public debt. He found that the Tourist Department, with its displays of fine deer heads nnd splendid iish, did more at Home io advertise NewZealand than anything else. In conclusion, Sir Joseph Ward stated that ibo Government was "alive and well." It was just about to go through a little experience that was rather interesting, but, when that was over, it would come along and meet its friends for another happy and pleasant korero of this sort. (Applause.) The Hon. J. A, Millar. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar also responded. He said that tho mistaken idea el thrift— that they should always buy in the cheapest market—was too often inculcated. It should be remembered that the cheapest market was not always the cheapest in toe long run. Iftcry penny whim they spent on local industries meant work lor their own workmen, and it was a trim saying (hat "charity begins at home." he- went on to say that he had been with his present chief for six years, and that, as far as the encouragement of local industries and the improvement of tho positfou of the workers was concerned, there was no more enthusiastic man than Sir Joseph Ward. His desire to mnlco (he country self-supporting was not surpassed by that of any person in New Zealand.