ON TH SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 May 1917, Page 5

ON TH SEA.

EFFECT OF SUBMARINES " ON DOMINION’S TRADE. The effect of the submarines on the trade of New Zealand formed the subject of remarks by the president of the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association (Mr. J. S. Hafbutt) last week. Here in New Zealand, he said, we were depending on the Old Country for many of our goods, and the submarine campaign was likely to cause a serious shortage of shipping for a few years at least. New Zealand would in all probability feel this more than any of the Dominions because of the distance separating her from the Old Countrj’. It was only natural to suppose that till the shipping got back to normal England would get her foodstuffs from the Dominions nearest her, and with this object in view attention had already been turned to Canada by the Development Board set up at Home. A point that -he had particularly noticed was the fact that in the report of this Beard not a single mention was made of Australia or New Zealand. We had arrived at the stage, he continued, when it had become absolutely necessary for an island country such as ours to become self-supporting. At the present time he held we were importing at least per cent, of goods more than was necessary. If New Zealand was to become really great it was absolutely necessary for her to develop her own industries. We had wool, skins, coal, iron, and other minerals, a hydroelectric scheme going to waste, not to mention timber and other products, and there was no reason why we should not become almost wholly selfsupporting. To do this we required brains, capital, and labour. As far as the labour was concerned, he was convinced that New’ workmen would compare more than favourably with any in th e world. We had the brains, and it was possible to get the capital. It was certain that we must do something to maintain the present prosperity of the country; if w r e did not we would in all probability experience some very hard times. Assistance from the Government, he continued, was essential. The first thing that w’ould be necessary would be a protective tatfff constructed on scientific lines. This W’ould necessitate the setting up of a Tariff Board to go into the whole question thoroughly, with thepporerw r er to take evidence and to make recommendations to the Government, which woufd be given effect to without delay. In conclusion, he stated that financial assistance should also be given by the Government, and that the wfiiole "question should be taken in hand without delay.