TAKEN TO TASK

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1931, Page 5

TAKEN TO TASK

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH. STRATFORD REMARKS OBJECTED TO. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH. December 17

The recent speech by the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, on the subject of secondary industries in New Zealand, was criticised by Air F. L. Hutchison, at the meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association last evening. The matter was discussed in committee, but after members had expressed their views, no decision was reported when the meeting resumed. “I want to refer to the. speech of the Governor-General at Stratford, and I speak on this matter with a great amount of diffidence,’’ said Air Hutchison. “The Governor General spoke to Chambers of Commerce some time ago, and he was taken to task in a most dignified manner in the “National Review.” He Inis offended again from our point of view and he has been saying things that I consider in all deference, that a Governor should not say.” At this stage, a. member suggested that the matter should he taken in committee and the suggestion was adopted. The Governor spoke at Stratford on December 11,

In the course of his speech at Stratford on December 11, the GovernorGeneral is reported to have said:—“Touching on industrial matters' His Excellency said he had heard it said that New Zealand should build up her secondary industries on a very large scale, but he said the primary industry must be- the backbone of a country like New Zealand, with its isolation and relatively small population. ‘Many secondary industries could not compete with the mass production of America, Great Britain and Germany. In those countries the problem of unemployment would become more serious. New Zealand could not have extensive secondary industries except behind a tariff wall. His Excellency said he made no' appeal, because lie felt confident of the future of New Zealand. What they had to do, as times got better, was to increase the population on the land, and by enterprise, resourcefulness and hard work, give opportunities to every man and woman and then there would be g larger population in 4.0 or >SO years.”