MINISTER’S ADVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1927, Page 4

MINISTER’S ADVICE

FUTURE OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES. WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Self-reliance and a determination to succeed, which were the chief assets of the pioneers, and the educating of people by advertisng the merits of Now Zealand-made goods, which must he right in quality, would do more lor

secondary industries in the Dominion Hmn all the talk in Parliament. This was the keynote of an interesting speech made by the Minister ol Industries and Commerce (the Hon A. P. M' Lead) to a great audience at the Pageant of New Zealand industries in the Town Hall on Saturday night. Mr M’Leod said that the success of the primary industries of the Dominion uas inevitably hound up with the success of the secondary industries, hul farming was our greatest industry. When one looked round and realised the fact that there were living today men who had seen the foundations laid of the city and province, one realised what enormous progress had I ice n made during 87 years, and wlial men and women of British stock were capable of achieving.

Self-reliance and a determination to succeed were the chief assets of the early settlers, and that spirit should be as strong to-day as in those days. He believed that spirit was alive today. hut in many quarters there was too much inclinat ion on the part of people to lean on the Government, and not depend upon themselves and the determination to succeed unaided. It was the industry, ingenuity and lighting spirit of the earlier settlers in clearing forests and draining swamps and converting them into fertile farm lands that had created the great fanning industries during the last three quarters of a century and made for progress. Some of the land was going hack to-day. The Minister said that lie had worked for more than -1(1 years ill the- intersts of primary producers, and he was convinced that no country such as this could he the country it was intended to he on primary producti.in alone, lie had held that opinion for many years, lie said unhesitatingly that there had never been in the history of the Dominion a more earnest hand of workers for the general welfare and progress of the people and the country more than the present Minis-

try. it was not in Cabinet, but in the hearts and minds of the people who

made Cabinet, that they must seek for support for secondary industries ol the Dominion. “My advice is that you must advertise your own goods and climate the people to take a pride in New Zea-land-made articles,” said the .Minister That is the spirit that must tie inculcated if yen are going to produce Parliaments to do what must be done.” They heard much l l' what was termed American “skito.” lie heid

that ‘*sk it el til tti-ss” was to a large degree a form of patriotism, lie believed that soirit had done more to push the sale of American goods than anything else. “Here, in New Zealand,”

!„ said, ‘•you have got to do the same ihiug. remembering till the time that yen are dealing with Rritishers of the best. British stock, ttnd that y ill have got i i produce and deliver the right .goods.” The .Minister said that he had been sorry to sec a resolution favouring the purchase by farmers of New Zealand-made goods withdrawn at the Farmers’ Enion Conference. ‘T know fanners and I say that that does not represent the general opinion of fanners of this country.” declared Mr M’l.-o.id. In times of depression there was always a t.iimuoa feeling that someone was getting more than his share, anil that feeling was pretty general among farmers. He would not argue whether it was right or wr mg. The idea of < lass e uiscioiisuess applied not to Labour alone. “There is a dangerous spirit growing up that various classes of society can hive off :iml escape the responsibilities common t> all." said the Minister. ‘'That is a mistaken and wrong idea. There must he common sacrifices. That was the spirit of the nioneers of this country, anil it should he the spirit of ns all to-day. We must all try to understand one another’s difficulties.”