PROTECTION NECESSARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 8

PROTECTION NECESSARY

HON. J. B. DONALD VIEWS N.Z. INDUSTRIES POSITION EXPLAINED That lie is fully in accord with any moves to foster manufacturing industries in the Dominion, is the burden of the Hon. J. B. Donald’s reply to a leading article in a recent issue of The Sun. “It is stated,” said Mr. Donald, “that the kernel of my remarks to the Manufacturers* Conference in Wellington is my opposition to any sort of protection, no matter what the situation, no matter what Dominion workers are in poverty, or what plant is lying idle. It is simply astonishing that such a construction could be placed on my remarks, when the whole burden of my speech was the encouragement of secondary industries. What I actually said, and this was faithfully reported, was that the Government w r as out to do all it possibly could to foster these industries. I also advocated cutting down excessive luxury spending, so that more money might he available for necessaries. “What seems to be causing trouble is that I expressed pleasure that the association did not advocate tariff barriers so high as to keep out overseas goods absolutely. Surely this cannot be construed into opposition to any sort of protection.”