The Dominion MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1919. A TIMELY REPORT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 288, 1 September 1919, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1919. A TIMELY REPORT

.At a time when there is serious danger of public attention being.

diverted from practical questions of

national welfare and advancement to political side-issues, the report of the Parliamentary Industries Committee ought to serve a very useful purpose. It contains, perhaps, little that is sensational or surprising, but as an orderly survey of the openings for industrial enterprise that exist in this country and of the opportunities that are now being neglected it is distinctly impressive. That many of the facts presented are within the range of common knowledge only reinforces the appeal the report is bound to make to whatever spirit- of enterprise is 'alive in the.Dominion. The committee covered a very wide range in its inquiries, but seems to have adhered throughout to a strictly practical outlook and to have framed its suggestions accordingly. As a result the report sets out a programme of industrial expansion which offers immense scope for enterprise, but cannot be described as at any point extravagant or farfetched. The big fact emphasised is that in this country altogether exceptional opportunities of industrial development have been hitherto strangely neglected. In light of that clearly established truth and in view of the great and urgent need that now exists of securing an increased production of wealth a report which points to so, many openings for profitable enterprise ought to carry its own recommendation.

To glance at some of the leading observations and proposals in the report is to realise what a great and promising programme of development it contains. The selection which follows, though by no means comprehensive, is striking as an exposure of neglected enterprise and in view of the possibilities of national enrichment it undoubtedly opens. The committee finds, amongst other. things, that:—

A separate Department of Industries and Commerce is widely demanded, and should be established, with comprehensive powers in regard to "tlw encouragement, improvement, and extension of New Zealand industries."

The Customs tariff 6hould be revised I without delay. The development of hydro-electric! energy is one of the most pressing duties j devolving on tlio Sfate. This would ensuro the rapid growth of industries. According to Mr. Evan Parry, given tho' money and labour, sufficient plant could be established in tho North Island I iu three years to meet present requirements. ■'

Of all the British Dominions New Zealand appears to be tho only one that has not organised for industrial research work since the commencement of tho war. '

Comprehensive measures of road classification, construction, and improvement are badly needed. Thero is a "general and genuine" scarcity of labour, as a consequence of which many industries are languishing and new enterprises are delayed. . , Hundreds of 6inall industries ought m the near future to profitably engage the attention, consideration, or assistance of the State.

There is urgent need of a publicity campaign /to popularise goods of local manufacture.

The status and remuneration of the skilled artisan is at present little, in 6ome cases not at all. liigher than that of the unskilled labourer. There is great need of corrccldng this anomaly, ami also of improving the conditions of apprenticeship. ■ The housing shortage is greater and more serious than is generally supposed, and a■_ comprehensive State housing scheme is an urgent necessity. '. In a survey of sources of supply it has to bo admitted that fish has been largely neglectcd. Tho establishment of a separate Forestry Department is demanded, not only in the interests of future timber supply, but also to minimise erosion and flooding, and for climatic reasons.

The report deals with many questions that are not touched in the foregoing summary, but the latter as it stands serves to emphasise the astonishing extent to 'which profitable enterprise is being neglected in this country, even where the openings for such enterprise are most favourable and most obvious. As the committee observes, the question to be decided is whether tho Dominion should enter upon such a course of action as tho report outlines—that is to say, upon a policy of systematic enterprise—"or whether we should refuse as a people to take advantage of our great opportunities and merely continue to aimlessly muddle along in the old, old way, trusting to I'rovidence to pull us through.

Primarily it devolves upon the politicians of the Dominion to answer ; this question. In a great degree thc ; problem of making up for lost time in industrial development- calls for national action as well as i for individual and group enterprise. The question of immigrationj whichi bears so vitally on industrial progress, can only be handled by the State. The same is true of broad questions of industrial organisation, including such matters as apprenticeship and the status of skilled and unskilled workei's, of the development on light lines of such natural resources as water-power, forests, and fisheries, and also of problems like that of the housing shortage which bear indirectly but vitally on industry, .the report of the Industries Committee is opportuno because it sets out a great part of this programme in clear and definite terms at a time when the Dominion is threatcnij., J *" c M'y of a section of its politicians with reversion to conditions of factional strife, for which it is impossible to urge even the poor justifications that may formerly have existed. The report sets out, measures of progressive -enterprise upon which it would be easy for pi actical men to reach agreement but agreement-, of course, will not be reached while the main political parties stand opposed on grounds that have nothing to do with the welfare of the country or its prosperous development. 'There is only one standard by which to measure current and pending political ovents. Any attempt to maintain divisions between those who are in substantial agreement on questions of national progress and development a deliberate attack upon tho present and future prosperity of the Dominion.