AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1921, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

ERA OF DEVELOPMENT. INCREASING EXPORT TRADE. <■' Industrial development in Australia was the subject of a statement by Mr. J. A. Brown, head of a large business 1 firm in Dunedin. Mr. Brown stated that the Australians had succeeded in establishing many industries of importance which prior to the war were practically unthought of. There was no doubt that difficulties in obtaining urgent requirements from Britain had led to the development of a great many industries which otherwise would never have been attempted. Then, too the success that had attended many of the old established manufacturing concerns in the Commonwealth within recent years had given a considerable impetus to other ventures of more recent origin. The idea that pervaded country that Australia should becomr self-supporting, and in addition develop an export trade of locally manufactured g*)ods. As regards agricultural implements, steel, iron, wire, copper, brass and aluminium supplies, the Commonwealth was becoming a serious competitor with the older countries from which New Zealand was in the habit of securing her requirements. Mr. Brown, expressed the opinion that Australian manufacturers would be able in the near future to not only cope with the expanding internal trade of their country, but also to increase their export trade very considerably. “What impressed me beyond all other things.” said Mr Brown, “was the propaganda against the importation of foreign made goods. Ft is not uncommon to see placards posted in factories setting forth the quantity of goods imported from Japan and other foreign countries. Then follows the question: ‘Why can’t Australia make her own goods?’ These methods have awakened a sentiment in favor of local industry, unknown a decade ago.” Asked if the “Australian sentiment” was meeting with any opposition from large importing houses, Mr. Brown replied: “On the contrary, many large importers are now turning their attention bo manufacturing. The difficulty experienced in having their bills discounted in London has forced them to utilise 'the resources of their country, and to Australia’s credit be it said when she could not secure her supplies from Britain rather than import from foreigners,. aHa rasnlvftd to speed up her own

industries. To such an extent have the manufacturers of the Commonwealth succeeded in meeting the changed conditions that in addition to capturing local trade formerly monopolised by foreign countries, they are now competing with a large measure of success against those countries in the export trade to United States of America, South America, South Africa and jfrew Zealand. The exports comprise pianos, agricultural implements, boots and clothing. The exports to New Zealand last year totalled over £5,000,000.”