HELP FOR INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 699, 26 June 1929, Page 9

HELP FOR INDUSTRY

manufacturers propose SPECIAL BOARD ministers sympathetic (Special to THE SUXJ WELLINGTON, Tuesday. When a deputation representing manufacturing interests throughout the Dominion waited on the Minister for Industries and Commerce, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, today, it advocated the establishment of a permanent board to deal with ail applications for the safeguarding of industry. .. Ministers, while expressing heir sympathy with the suggestion, made it clear that they desired to maice further investigation before pledging their support. Declaring that New Zealand manufacturers desired neither an increase of tariff nor a continuance of a tariff to bolster up any industry that might be . inefficient or economically unsuited, Mr. F. Campbell, the president of the New Zealand Alanufacturers' Federation, said that the only tariff that could reasonably be expected w r as one that would equalise rates of wages, hours, and conditions. SPECIFIC PROPOSAL The suggestion was that a body to be known as the Development of Industries Board be formed. Mr. Campbell recalled that Air. Cobbe had asked for a specific proposal. After studying conditions abroad, the federation urged that legislation be passed this session providing:— 1. That a board be set up comprising five members, two representing the Government and three representing the industries of the Dominion. 2. That the board be appointed for three years, and its members be paid such salary and allowances as might be agreed upon. 3. That the board’s chief object should be to develop the industries of New Zealand that were particularly suited to the country from the economic and consumption of output points of view, and that Its powers should Include inquiries into and reports upon any proposed changes in the existing tariff referred to it by the Government or by the executive of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation.REAL EMPLOYERS

Mr. G. Finn, vice-president of the Dominion Federation, and president of the Auckland Alanufacturers’ Association, said that the prosperity of the country did not depend on accumulated deposits in the banks, but on the number of people engaged in profitable production. Manufacturers were but organisers of production, and the real employers of labour were the purchasers of goods, he declared. When New Zealanders bought New Zealand products, they created work in New Zealand. When they bought imported goods, they helped to kill local industry and create unemployment. A board such as advocated was the natural outcome of the present problem. New Zealand had money to burn, and exports were at record figures, yet unemployment was worse than ever. “ENTIRELY ADVISORY” After assuring the deputation that the Government’s policy was to give preference to New Zealand-made goods wherever possible. Air. Cobbe said he presumed that such a board would function entirely In an advisory way, and that the final decision would rest with the Government. He had not had a full opportunity of examining the proposal, but be thought such a board should be able to do very useful work. Air. Taverner said he was by no means opposed to the board scheme, subject of course to a complete investigation into the way in which it would assist without interfering with Government action. MONEY MOVEMENT There was an extraordinary position in the Dominion today. There was a trade balance of £12,000,000, but at the same time there was unemployment, showing that the wealth created by the trade balance was not going into industry. An economic investigation would explore the avenues of exploitation, and if such avenues could not be found, New Zealand must make up its mind to supply only its domestic requirements. On the question of tariffs, the Minister said the Customs tariff had to produce a certain approximate revenue. It was the correct and equitable distribution of that tariff that concerned the deputation. In that aspect he believed there was a great field for scientific inquiry. If the Government could assist in stabilising and analysing the position, it would do so.