PROTECT TRADE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 63, 7 December 1937, Page 5

PROTECT TRADE

-Press AAsocialior X

Discussion to Begin CABINET DECISION Industry Invited to State Its Case IMPORT COMPETITION

(By Telearaph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. The announcement that th© New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation had been authorised to begin discussidnt with representatives of the Departmenti , of Customs and Industries and Commerce with regard to every industry requiring protection was made by the president, Mr David Henry, of Auckland, at the annual conference of .th# federation to-day. He said that at the. annual meetiflg ot the Canterbury association the Hou« D. G. Sullivan, Minister of IuduStries and Commerce, had stated that it had been deei'ded that the steps taken in the matter of footwear should be taken in t#viewing other industries affected. Thi# welcomo news was confirmed yesterday, when he had a talk with the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Walter Nash, and Mf Sullivan. The federation was now authorised t# commence diseussions with representaV tives of the departments. Each industry, as in the case of footwear, would set out its present position and justify by statements of costs any Application which it would make for protection against imports now entering the country. "Accordingly, we bring to our annual conference something definite attd tangible. I therefore stress very strongly the need to complete our organising of trade groups so that every industry will be able to state its' position in the proper manner during the forthcoming diseussions with the departmental committee," Mr Henry concluded. Mr Henry said that in looking back over the year's work he thought hia chief feeling was one of disappointmeut at the meagre results achieved. "When the Government took office," he said, ' ' we f elt that they were determined to push forward manufactmring industries — not just make it pofcsible to keep existing factories busy, but also help us to develop manufacturing industries generally. Unfortunately. some manufacturers have not been able even to keep all their staff s constantly employed through the year, and this position in time became so alarming that the solution of that RroDicm finally took precedence over all others." The simple facts were, Mr Henry added, that little if any new development had taken placeHn industry, and even more serious was the outstanding fact that there were hundreds of pebplo unemployed who should be working but for the excessive importation of gtiods which could easily haye, been made by our own workmen. Forbunately, there was also a bright side to the picture.- There were still many busy plants in New Zealand, and, while the present buoyant prices for exports continued, there would be a substantial demand for New Zealandmade goods which could not b'e so readily imported from overseas countries.