SUPPORT FOR MANUFACTURERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 895, 12 February 1930, Page 10

SUPPORT FOR MANUFACTURERS

FOR long enough the progress of New Zealand has been hampered by a stubborn practice of the doctrine that agriculture provides the only master key which will clear the way to economic salvation. Blind advocates of this increasinglyobvious fallacy have had their day, and the result of an administrative bias is apparent in the present state of the country which is crying aloud for fresh industrial impetus and the means with which to absorb labour rapidly and adequately. Fortunately, however, public opinion at last is swinging away from the unsound principle that the industry of cities must bow down liefore the industry of the land. This journal has been constant, though almost alone, in its advocacy of full encouragement for the manufacturers of the Dominion, and it is with pardonable satisfaction that we have noted the support and agreement in high places now forthcoming. The latest assurance of sympathy with manufacturing industries comes from a somewhat unexpected but all the more welcome source. In the course of a speech at a dinner given by the High Commissioner in London, Lord Bledisloe, newly-appointed Governor-General, and one of the leading agriculturists of Great Britain, has made it plain that he is fully alive to the importance of New Zealand’s manufactures. “I am glad to think that industries other than agriculture are appearing,” he said. “I do not want to be regarded merely as an agricultural specialist to the exclusion of my interest in the varied activities and problems of New Zealand.” There is a lesson to be learned by politicians and certain amateur economists from these words, coming as they do from a peer who has made the advancement of agriculture a life-long study. Lord Bledisloe’s assurances were supported by the announcement that a great industry shortly may be established in New Zealand with the help of British capital. This is welcome news, not only because it promises a valuable increase in manufacturing activity, but because it involves an influx of capital for industrial purposes. Financial immigration of this kind is a paramount need in New Zealand today, and the success of similar projects overseas should be sufficient evidence of the opportunities for industrial development on a scale beyond the resources of private capital in the Dominion. British money for manufacturing purposes has become domiciled in Australia with excellent results, and Canada has benefited enormously from a generous influx of United States capital. I ndoubtedly the salient features of Lord Bledisloe’s speech give cause for hopeful anticipation. There is great scope for the Governor-General-desiguate in his new sphere, and while everybody will appreciate his specialised interest in agriculture, ‘ he may be assured that a large and growing section of the country will give an equally heartfelt welcome to his adyocaey of manufacturing progress.