DECENTRALISATION PLAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 14

DECENTRALISATION PLAN

DOMINION INDUSTRIES Sii ALI /ER C EXTR EB’ C*i . a iM S EFFORTS OF < iOVKRXM EXT (Parliament ary 'Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Several members of the House of Rep resen la tiv c s y e.s lord ay endc avoured to bring to the attention of prospective manufacturers the importance of their respective localities as centres for the establishment of new industries. They have put up arguments against too great central isatiom, as much of the recent development has been in the vicinity of Wellington.

The lion. W. E. Barnard, the Speaker, used his right to approach the Government in this wav, his suggestion being that the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when considering the licensing of new industries, should have regard to factors of better distribution of population and the safeguarding oi essential industries against possible enemy attack. ‘'The modern tendency,'’ stated Mr. Barnard, “is for new industries to crowd into two or three industrial towns, which may be open to attack from enemy aircraft. The erection of a factory at Rongotai, Wellington, for the manufacture of aeroplanes is a striking instance of the present trend." Limitations to Power Mr. Sullivan pointed out in his reply that there are limitations to iris powers in the way of arranging the distribution of industries, as they apply only to those which have been declared to be subject to licensing under the Industrial Efficiency Act. “Twenty-one industries have been so gazetted," lie continued, “but Ibis number includes several ’distributive industries and, in fact, embraces only three which were at the time of licensing or are at present entirely new to the Dominion. The manufacture oil aeroplanes is not subject to license, so that the site for the manufactory is a matter .for the manufacturer himself. Where, however, an industry is a licensed one, lie Bureau of industry is required, 'n considering the application, to have regard to the economics of the proposed site in relation to markets, oower. raw materials and labour, etc., and these questions are very thoroughly examined in each case."

Smaller Towns In another answer to a question on the subject, Mr. Sullivan assured the questioner, who had urged the advantages of smaller towns as factory sites, that the Government was aware of the advantages of the kind available in smaller centres. "I can assure him that invariably intending manufacturers are .impressed with the desirability for n

close examination of all factors before deciding finally upon the site," added Mr. Sullivan. “Cost factors for each industry, however, vary so much, dependent. upon particular requirements of that industry for power supplies, male or female labour, the necessity 'or being as chore ns possible to the largest consumer market and the freight charges involved on both raw materials and finished goods, that each ease presents a, different problem."