PROTECTING N.Z. INDUSTRIES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 4

PROTECTING N.Z. INDUSTRIES

-Press Association.)

Manufacturers' Appeal To Government H0N0URING PROMISES

(By I'elegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The detrimental effects of the flood of imports upon New Zealand secondary industries were stressed by the retiring president, Mr P. N. Ambler, at the annual meeting of the Auckland Manufacturers ' Association. In explaining the need for .early effect to be given to the promises of the Government for protection^ particularly from Australia, hc expressed the opinion that, if there were any need for goods which could not be produced within the Dominion, they should be obtained from England. Mr Ambler referred to the rapid increase which had taken place in the volume of imports. Eor the 12 months ended August 31, the advance was approxijnately £13,000,000, as compared with the eorresponding pexiod in the previous year. Normally, this was the busiest time of the year for factories, but, instead^ hands were being put off, and iirms were working short time. There was a feeling of uncertainty and lack of confidence throughout the conntry and manufacturers were apprehensive regarding the future. They were v.'ondering when the repeated promises of the Government to protect industry would be given effect. "Conditions should be good in New Zealand to-day," he stated. "Our exports are fetching a high priee and our national income will be large. It is beeause the Government, in its efforts to raise the standard of living oi the workers, has so raised costs that the manufacturers are finding they cannot compete with other countries. "When will these promises be given effect?" he asked. In his opinion if the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, had the sole say in the matter, conditions would not have reached the state they were now in. "We know there -are difficulties, such as previous treaties, to be overcome," he declaredt "but the Government should have been prepared for them, and foreseen the consequences before applying some of the legislation which has so raised costs that the local manufactured article is out of competition. No Government in this country has been bold enough to protect adequately its Secondary industries."