FOSTERING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1921, Page 5

FOSTERING INDUSTRY.

AUSTRALIA’S POLICY.

MR. T. K. SIDEY’S IMPRESSIONS.

On his return to Wellington from a visit to Australia, Mr. T. K. Sidey, M.P., mentioned that he had found the Australian Governments, like the New Zealand Government, suffering from the financial stringency. Unemployment was much more severe in New South Wales and Queensland than it had boon in New Zealand. The Federal Government had discharged many employees, and the States had found difficulty in carrying on public works. The fostering of local industries was a feature of Australian policy at the present time. Mr. Sidey said he found on every hand indications of the success of this policy. Appeals to the consuming public to buy Australian goods were prominent, especially in Sydney. The war had operated in the direction of artificially assisting local industries in Australia, as well as in New , there having been a difficulty in importing owing to the scarcity of shipping and high freights. An additional impetus to ; local production in Australia had been given by restrictions against the importation of so-called luxuries. Mr. Sidey mentioned, as an instance, that there had been a large increase in the manufacture of motor-car bodies. The Government, by proclamation, had made it impossiblet to import one complete motor-car unless accompanied by two chasis. This restriction was withdrawn on the introduction of the 1920 tariff, and a protective duty designed to encourage the local motor industry was substituted. The result had been to increase largely the number of car bodies built locally, until now about 88 per cent, of the motors were imported by Australia without bodies. In New Zealand it was the other way about. “Victoria alone,” said Mr. Sidey, “has about 50 companies engaged 'in the building of motor bodies, and in New South Wales one large firm has almost completed the erection of a factory covering three acres and a-half for this purpose. The industry provides employment in. Australia for 3000 artisans.”

It was true, ho said, that the cars cost slightly more than if they had been imported complete, but it seemed to be generally admitted that the Australianmade body was’better than the imported article.

Great strides had been made in the cocoa industry. Australia, in 1920, imported £500,000 worth of cocoa beans, and there were now 26 firms engaged in the manufacture of cocoa and chocolates The restrictions on the importation of confectionery during the war had given a marked stimulus to the local industry, and the ground gained was being maintained under the 1920 tariff. Some wellknown English firms were now manufacturing in Australia, and the industry I employed 7000 hands, and represented an [invwtnrent of about £l,