OUR PRODUCTS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1930, Page 2

OUR PRODUCTS

EFFECT OF FALL IN PRICES. TRADE AND BANK FIGURES. “Our trade and banking figures have keen somewhat adversely affected during the year ended March 3i, 1930, by a more or less continuous fall in the prices of several of our principal primary products,” states the annual report o>; the Industries and Commerce Department, wiriOi was presented to Par.iament. “The effect of this has been counteracted to some extent by increases in production of certain commodities. A substantial increase in exchange races is tending to discourage importations and to restore the trade balance to a satisfactory figure. There are indications that the low level of prices in overseas markets is stimulating consumption in many lines, and it is hoped that next season may see a revival in the demand for our products and aii improvement in regard to prices. It is therefore to be expected that oiii' trade and banking figures will show ail early tendency towards a position of gi'eaer national security:”

The report stated that with regard to oar manufacturing industries, it was pleasing to note that the latest statistics available—those for the year ended March 31, 1929—revealed a greater degree of activity and employment during that period than in the previous year. Our manfacturers were undoubtedly awakening to the necessity of availing themselves oi more scientific methods of production, and the general public was slowly becoming imbued with a knowledge and an appreciated of the merits of the products of the manufacturing industries of the Dominion. With a still greater measure of support given to those industries by the buying public it was confidently hoped that the statistics for the year ended March 31 1930, and succeeding years, show further steady expansion iu many directions.

MANUFACTURING 'INDUSTRIES. “The Government’s interest in the manufacturing industries,” continues the report was manifested during the year by the setting-up of a Parliamentary Committee to investigate certain industries of the Dominion, bur, unfortunately, owing to unforeseen circumstances, this was unable to function. It cannot be doubted that such a committee, consisting of sound business men with a broad outlook unbiassed in their opinions, could find much from such an investigation that would be of value to the industries concerned, “While is is true that there is a progressive movement among certain sections of tho manufacturing industries and a genuine desire to adopt the most improved methods of production, yet it must be said that this movement is not general over the whole field. The apathy of some manufacturers is a bar to the general adoption of a more rational organisation of production. Any improvement in many cases must’' therefore be effected as a result of investigations made by some external commitee or commission appointed for the purpose. Methods making for greater efficiency in plant and personnel, working conditions, piecework and conditions thereof, and methods of wage payment, relations between employer and employees, costing systems, and methods of marketing, are some subjects that offer scope for valuable investigation and research by such a committee. The elimination of waste, both in effort and materials, and the reduction of costs ofi production, are essential factors in the struggle for markets which is much in evidence, to-day. PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT. “The problem of unemployment is largely connected with these elements for with the lowering of prices, which should result from decreased costs of production, demand should be stimulated and more workers absorbed. In its early stages rationalisation might mean the shutting down of the more unrennmerative plants and the tightening up oif the productive machine to dispense with all unnecessary labour and materials. Alongside the machinery of rationalisation there /should therefore necessarily be provided machinery for the training and guidance of temporarily displaced workers as well a's provision for those who caiiiiot be transferred to other occupations.

“Representations have been made to official quarters by the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation for a Development of Industries Board, and the fact that a proposal of this character' hr<s been made by the manufacturers indicates that they realise clearly that they have many problems which await solution—problems which are peculiar to New Zealand, arising as they do from our iso’ation from the groat manufacturing centres of the world, and from the comparative smallness of our population. Sooner or later those problems must be solved if the manufacturing, industries are to progress side by side with the development of the primary industries by investigation and study.”