PROSPERITY IDEAL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 10

PROSPERITY IDEAL

Minister’s Defence Of Labour Policy

COMMERCIAL CRITICS A View Rejected At The Election A reply to criticism of some aspects of the Government’s policy, made by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. ]’. 'E. Pattrick, in his address at the annual meeting of the chamber last night, was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, when speaking later in the evening. Mr. Pattrick had expressed views, Air. Sullivan said, at variance with those of the majority of the people as shown at the election. The Government was out to increase the standard of living for the whole of the people, he said, and if it made mistakes would have the courage to rectify them.

Mr. Sullivan said lie felt that Die president had displayed a great deal of courage in what lie had said. He had given adherence to an outlook and a philosophy that the Minister could not agree with. “Brave Small Minority.” “At the same time it is obvious that, however sincere the president was in the statements lie made, and which lie had a. perfect right to make, liis views were at variance with those of tlie overwhelming majority of the people of the country as expressed last October,” Mr. Sullivan said. “That, I think, will go without saying, and I have no doubt that you, Mr. President, are pleased to be oue of a brave small minority. ,1

“It is quite true that the Government is out to increase the standard of living for the whole of our people,” the Minister continued. “The' ideal by which we are actuated is one. some of us have gathered from Scripture and which some of us have gathered in other ways. We are endeavouring to give expression to that ideal in a concrete way. We believe that it is possible and we are trying to do it. “I am not going to say that we will not make mistakes. I will not say that we perhaps have not made mistakes, but I will say this: that to whatever extent we become conscious of the fact that we have made a mistake at any point, you can be assured the Government wilt have tlie courage to rectify that mistake, and to do the very best it can to do those things that will at one and the same time give expression to its ideals, and do it in tlie wav that is most sensible and least hurtful to any section of the community. s Increasing Happiness. “The man hasn’t lived— the organization, the Government, tlie nation —that has not made mistakes. We may make mistakes. But, to use the Prime Minister’s language, we will make other things, too. We wish to raise the prosperity of the whole of our people and increase their happiness.”

Mr. Sullivan said that he was ton large extent in sympathy with .Mr. Pattrick’s references to production. Though many of those present might not agree with its methods, the Government was striving to increase production on tlie part of every section .—workers, farmers, and manufacturers—because, unless there was such an increase, tlie Government would be unable to achieve its ideal of greater health, happiness and prosperity for everyone, irrespective of class or occupation.

There had been a falling-off of production and export values, which had caused some disquiet, but there weie reasons for these things, said Mr. Sullivan. For three years, for instance, he had been trying to induce wheatgrowers to provide all the wheat for Now Zealand’s needs ; the growers. had done their best to respond, but neither they nor the Government could control tlie weather, which had been persistently bad and had prevented the realization of the objective. Similar factors applied to some extent to the fallingoff in dairy production. Production Problems. New Zealand had some big problems to overcome in connexion with production —among then animal and plant diseases, land deterioration and erosion —and the Government was laying itself out to try to find a solution. "I know that there is a difference in the outlook and philosophy of the president and those associated with him and the Government and its half-million supporters,” said Mr. Sullivan, “but I think this is probably the truth of the position: Both you and I, aud those associated with each of us, are glad to be New Zealanders and are proud of what our country has accomplished; underneath the differences of opinion is a fundamental love of our land and a confidence that it will win through to play a greater part in the future.” Mr. Sullivan said he was confident that the ultimate outcome of the import licensing system would not be. to reduce the total volume of trade with the United Kingdom, though there would probably be a change in the kind of goods imported. In the long run the result of the policy of building up local industries would probably be an even greater trade with the United Kingdom, but in raw materials and plant instead of finished products. Expansion of Manufacturing Industries

“In 1938, for the first time in the history of the Dominion,' more than 100,000 persons were engaged in manufacturing industries,” Mr. Sullivan said. "Compared, with 1935-36, the number of male workers employed increased 1 rom 6.>, 19* to 76,151, and female workers from 21,391 to 26,193, a total increase of 15,756 persons. The total wages paid showed tin increase in the two years from £14,844,367 to £20.981,587. Not only have more workers been employed, but their average wages have been increased bj' just on 20 per cent, from £l7l to £205 a head. “We have been criticized for increasing wages, but business men generally have benefited by the greater demand for goods by workers who have more wages to spend. The greater demand for goods ip shown by the figures of factory production, which in two years rose from £90,000,000 to £113,000,000. Manufacturing industries generally have shown expansion, using more fuel and power, more materials from other industries, installing more machinery and plant, erecting more buildings, buying more land. The value added to products by our industries in-

creased by 10 per cent, over 1936-37, rising from £35,000,000 to £38,500,000. “The general increase in employment in industry has a tremendous effect upon the lives of young people leaving school,” Mr. Sullivan said. “The industries which show an expanding number of employees include, clothing 1088, sawmilling 359, furniture 338. electrical engineering 257, printing and publishing 250.

“We must look to manufacturing industries for the provision of employment for our people. The expansion of manufacturing industries has not been confined to any one centre. It is general throughout the whole Dominion, including the smaller centres.”