PROTECTION FROWNED ON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 11

PROTECTION FROWNED ON

MANUFACTURERS MEET IN WELLINGTON

MINISTER’S STATEMENT WELLINGTON, Today. Determination on the part of the Government to do everything possible to foster manufacturing industries in the Dominion was expressed by the Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Industries and Commerce, at the annual conference of manufacturers in Wellington today. At the same time the Minister stated he was definitely opposed to anything in the shape of high protection. He was glad to see that the manufacturers themselves did not favour high protection, because it would be a bad thing for the country if the cost of living was forced up. The Minister considered that people today were spending too much on the luxuries and not enough on the necessities of life. New Zealand could not afford to pay £ 8,000,000 yearly for motor-cars and things that go with them. There were many things at present brought into the country which could be made in iNew Zealand if they went the right way about it. At the same time he did not think it should be thought we should not trade overseas. They must not lose sight of the fact that if we were to exist as a nation, there must be trade between the various countries. The inquiry committee which the Government had set up was a strong one, and should do good work. Its recommendations should receive every consideration ,and the head of the department, Mr. J. W .Collins, who was shortly leaving for Canada, would be on the lookout for beneficial information. Mr. Collins said the committee would not be hurried in its work, and the itinerary could be extended if necessary. A resolution was passed requesting the government, when granting States Advances loans for building, to stipulate that the material or articles are the product of New Zealand and New Zealand workers, provided tha the New Zealand product is comparable with any imported substitute, or that the cost of the New Zealand product does not entail a substantial addition to the subsequent cost of the building.