The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1919. BRITAIN'S NEW INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1919. BRITAIN'S NEW INDUSTRIES.

Industrial activity in Britain is in a transitive stage, due to the passage from war conditions to those of peace. Every effort is being made to cause as little dislocation as possible, but obviously, there must be many difficulties to overcome before normality is reached, especially when it is remembered that it took over two years to make the change from peace to war, so that naturally the reverse process must take time, and there must be a certain amount of dislocation. At the same time the marvellous success that was attained in construction and adaptation of machinery and human effort for the purposes of the war gives a reliable indication of what may confidently be expected in building up a post-war trade in which British labor will reach a point never known in pre-war days. In a recent interview, Mr. Kellaway, the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, who is in close touch with the great industrial movements in Britain, made some interesting and practical remarks on the industrial situation and its probable developments. While admitting that there was an abundance of machinery available, he emphasised the fact that some of it was useless for other purposes than munitions, and must be replaced or altered, but he indicated that the requisite action was going on satisfactorily, many manufacturers having already completed the necessary changes and entered upon peace productions. One of the lessons of the war was the imperative need for new industries in Britain to take the place of imported goods For instance, in 1914 there was only one firm which produced magnetos, the number manufactured being 1140, but now there; were fourteen firms, producing 128,637 magnetos jn a year, the quality of which was the highest in, the world, besides being lighter and more reliable than the German make. In the matter of ignition plugs, the development was more satisfactory, for instead of three firms, producing 5000 plugs, there were now five firms with an output of 2,148,726, in spite of competition by France, Italy and America; and these British plugs are said to be the best in the world, so that, not only in quantity, but in quality, British manufacturers are making a decided advance The importance of this industry may be estimated by the fact that the world to-day moves by means of magnetos and ignition plugs—on land and in the air—so that the standard of quality cannot fail to have a great influence on the volume of trade. During % war Britain regained control over many invaluable sources of raw material' and there appears to be a prospect of far greater resources in the fuijure, which will provide aevjj'

means of wealth and profitable employment. The war industries may be regarded as permanent assets for the years of peace. British industry has been awakened as never before, and it is rapidly occupying fresh territory, owing to the knowledge and skill arising out of war work. The days of imported goods on a large scale are over; they are no longer acceptable, the desire and intention being to seek and find fresh things than can be made, not only for home use, but for export. This is a point which the Dominions should never lose sight of—dealing within the Empire. If the workers will only help the manufacturers by putting their best energies into this development work they will not only reap an unprecedented reward, but will so enlarge the country's trade that their future, and that of their children, will be satisfactorily assured. The best results can only be obtained by the application of sciende and the use of the most suitable apparatus. It is, therefore, pleasing to note that the manufacturers are keenly alive to the great opportunity which now presents itself, and that they recognise that the workers must receive their due share of the profits. The man who does the work must be. in a position to real ise that it is to his advantage for the country to be prosperous. N ,Hc must have a real cash interest ',l increased production, for it is only by increased production that Britain can emerge triumphant from her colossal financial strain. "When the worker sees that his personal interest is bound up with this increased production he will receive a stimulant to put forth his best endeavors, not only in his actual labor, but by making suggestions for improvements that will achieve greater results. "Without that stimulant it would be foolish to expect an advancement of industry. The way in which British manufacturers are bending their backs to this new development should be an ob ject lesson for every community in the Empire. The awakening should be general, and Capital and Labor should unite in a common effort to raise the industries of the Empire to their highest level, eliminating strife and aiming at a common goal. A certain measure of unem ployment may exist at times, but its worst features can be mitigated by economy and thrift, while the advantages to the workers on the whole cannot fail to be many and appreciable.