LOCAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 13

LOCAL INDUSTRY

POLICY STATEMENT

QUESTION OF IMPORTS

GOVERNMENT'S PLANS

Subsequent to the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation on Wednesday the council of the federation gave full consideration to the question of the excessive importation of goods. It was decided that "in view of the importance of the subject, and also in view of the publicity given to the rejection by the conference of a motion which seemed to indicate the manufacturers' organisation was opposed to any interference with the present dangerous level which importations have reached, a considered statement of the policy of the federation should be made." The statement, issued last night, is as follows:— ,-• t "The council desires to state in the clearest terms that it has always been of the opinion that there should be a definite policy of regulating the importation of any goods from overseas j which can be economically made in New Zealand. This is a fundamental! part of the federation's policy, and always has been, and for that reason the conference which has just ended, unanimously adopted, at the commencement of its meeting, a remit from the Auckland association, urging the Government to give all necessary protection to manufacturers from overseas imports. BALANCED ECONOMY. s "The manufacturers' federation, throughout its history, has constantly advocated the policy of a full development of manufacturing industries in New Zealand, on the grounds that the adoption of such a policy is the only one which will provide a balanced economy for the country and bring in its train the well-being of every section of the community. The major portion of the federation's activities has always been directed to the attainment of this ideal for the reasons indicated above, and it was because of that basic principle that the conference rejected the motion. "Put simply and briefly, the conference approved of the sentiments implied in the proposal, but not with its limited implications. The council is perfectly clear that manufacturing can only be developed if funds are available, and, therefore, is seriously concerned over their withdrawal at the present time, and it urges the Government to bring forward, without delay, the proposals to develop manufacturing which Mr. Savage and Mr. Sullivan have indicated. "If this is done quickly we believe that funds will readily flow back for investment in industry, and we will witness a very substantial improvement in the position, while at the same time the unemployment position will be progressively improved. "The Manufacturers' Federation has promised the Government its co-opera-tion and now awaits the proposals which have been promised with the keenest interest and with the expressed determination to play its part to the full in furthering the Government's intention to develop pur industries to the utmost extent."

The motion rejected by the conference read as follows: —"That, as the economic problems at present confronting the Dominion, particularly the position of the balance of funds available in London, indicate the necessity for restricting or regulating importations, the federation welcomes the indication given by the Minister of Industries and Commerce that the Government proposes to take steps to deal with the situation, and wishes to record the opinion that such steps as may be decided upon should be directed towards restriction of imports of consumer goods of a kind that can be manufactured within the Dominion."