AN ECONOMIC NEED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1939, Page 5

AN ECONOMIC NEED

EXPANSION OF DOMINION INDUSTRIES

DISCUSSION . AT LABOUR CAUCUS.

CONSIDERATION OF EXCHANGE CONTROL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Exchange control and industrial expansion within the Dominion were the two main questions discussed at a caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Party in Wellington yesterday. Brief reference was made to defence, but fuller consideration is to be given this subject when the caucus resumes today. There is also to be a discussion on the housing problem. At the conclusion of the proceedings late yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J., Savage, in an interview, said that exchange control had been discussed in all its ramifications. Everyone was satisfied with the general policy that had been adopted. Related to exchange control was the question of industrial development in New Zealand, and this also had been discussed. It was the job of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, to see that manufacturing industries were developed at such a rate that they would be able to do as much as possible in the • shortest possible time to fill the gap brought about by the limitation of imports. In the campaign in support of New Zealand industry it was intended to have the assistance of every member of the party in delivering public addresses and in meeting unions. This campaign was to start right away.

Mr Savage said he himself would take an active part in the- campaign. He intended to visit factories in order to obtain a better idea of what was really happening. It was not sufficient to talk it was necessary to be in a position to tell the public actually what progress was being made with industrial development. He hoped within the next week or so to complete arrangements for visits to various centres in the Dominion.

Housing construction . and defence were to be discussed by the caucus today. Housing construction, said Mr Savage, was one of the biggest problems facing them at the present time. There was no doubt about that. The housing conditions of many people were just scandalous —there was no other word for it. If any progress were to be made with its problem it meant increasing the number of people in the building trade. Not only was it necessary to train more of theii own people as building tradesmen, but under present circumstances it seemed that skilled men would have to be brought here from abroad. Unless some such action were taken it seemed that it would be quite impossible to do a fraction of what was required, let alone solve the problem.