HELPING INDUSTRIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 845, 13 December 1929, Page 8

HELPING INDUSTRIES

PROTECTION TO ECONOMICAT ENTERPRISE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE S VIEW “It should be emphasised thlt the Auckland Chamber of Cjmmerce is not opposed to manufacturing industries in New Zealand so long as they can be ss-.aF lished satisfactorily, and carried on economically. But when an industry becomes uneconomical it should be given up." This opinion was expressed by president, Mr. H. T. Merritt, and generally approved by the Chamber of Commerce Council yesterday. T),. comment was made on a letter Iron the Auckland Manufacturers' Assotfi. tion. which objected to remarks b, Mr. C. P. Agar, in his presidential ad dress to the recent Associated Cham hers of Commerce conference j, Auckland. The council endorsed a statement setting out the chamber's views on mans, f acturiug industries sent to the Man«. facturers' Association. This showed that the chamber had never opposed a fair measure of protection for yoong and growing industries, which tnigst be economically established. Tie chamber had only opposed protect! re duties for industries that requimd mass production. “I don't think ths chamber has ever! expressed any opinion hostile to thrj manufacturing industries,” declared! Mr. H. T. Merritt. Mr. T. C. Webster said that with the development of manufacturing industries in New Zealand, the j*. ports would diminish. It was essential from Auckland's standpoint, as an overseas port, that the inflow of goods should not be stopped. “W> should remember we have vital interests in the port,” added Mr. Webster, in pointing out that industries established in the South would adversely affect overseas trade here. He claimed, too that it would not be economical to have ships coming to New Zealand half-empty, to carry away the agricultural and dairy produce. Mr. D. W. J. Bowden considered that a much broader perspective of the development o: manufacturing industries in New Zealand would have to be taken. Mr. M. Stewar: asserted that a customs official lad informed him that the customs -evenue at Wellington was larger thin at Auckland because of the large importations of raw materials foi the large industrial plants in the Southern city. Mr. Webster questioned who would pay for the maintenance of the ports and property if the policy of centralising industries went on, and be claimed that unless the manufacturing industries were established in various centres, there was a grace risk of decline in overseas trade. The council decided to advise the Manufacturers’ Association of its views.