THE SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 13

THE SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

APPEAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER

OUTLOOK FOR LOCAL MANU-

FACTURES

IU iVtatrtDli-Presa Ao»o<!l»Uofc. 1 Christchurch, December 5. A shortage of apprentices,and workers in tho engineering industry was one of the complaints made by a deputation of representatives of secondary industries whiok united on the Prime Minister today. It was pointed out that tho business olFcring could not be coped with owing to the. lack of labour, and Mi. Mas'tj "'as asked to take stops to import skilled boiloraaakors, blacksmiths, and moulders. Shipping space irn« scarce and overy Christchurch workshop was congested with agricultural niaehinery ordered for the .-North, Island, but shut out by steamer after steamer. It was suggested that tho Government should deliver through tho parcels office packages of all sizes.

Mr. Massey said that ho agreed .to almost every word that had been said, for the Dominion was only beginning to .realise the importance of its secondary .industries, and-the report of tho Industries Committee would be of great value. New Zealand, might not soon become a country for exporting manufacturing articled; -but- at least it. should provide for its' own requirements, 'ami ho certainly believed that the American system should be followed of not exporting raw material which could be made up in ill© country. This applied particularly In wool, iiu had uover considered the extension of tho parcel post department in the direction.indicated, but he would consult his Department on tho subject. Reciprocity, witn Australia had' been attempted frequently without sucenss, bud that was no fault of the New Zealnnd Government, and he hoped that before long some arrangement of tlie_ kind would be made, ileanwhilo Imperial free trade iras making headway, nnd.iff.mig'lit eomo in time. Ho had been siirpriswl to hear that the Railway Department was not training enough apprentices, and it might bo that apprentices were not available, partly because unskilled jnen were getting higher wages in some cases than skilled. Ho would go into the matter with tho General Manager of Railways. Immigration had been considered, and as soon as all the soldiers wero back immigration would be gone into energetically. Tho immigrants would not all bo farm labourers—a good many would be skilled tradesmen. He had no end of applications by persons anxious to settle ,in Now Zealand, and it was ,tho duty of tho Imperial Government at •least to assist these men to emigrato to iibe British Dominions.