Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1939. INDUSTRIES AND PROGRESS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1939. INDUSTRIES AND PROGRESS.

1 YO.one presumably needs to be told that the establishment X of additional manufacturing' and other industries in the Wairarapa Valley offers many advantages to tlie people of this fifte, but far from completely developed district, these advantages are defined so plainly that nothing but a rather widely prevalent habit of leaving it to the other fellow to take the initiative and do what is necessary will account for the Wairarapa not having made much greater and more rapid strides in industrial development than it can yet claim. Our existing industries have been developed on a considerable scale, but that scale might be multiplied with unqualified benefit. The essential condition of an expansion, which is to be desired equally from the standpoint of this district and its people and from that of the Dominion at large, is co-operation throughout the community. Some additional particulars are given in our news columns today of the prospective establishment of an additional lactoiy in Masterton. It should be recognised that it is perfectly possible to attract other industries to various parts of the district provided the right inducements are offered. What the required inducements are is indicated in common experience here and elsewhere in New Zealand. Christchurch, for example, in seeking consideration as a centre in which to establish additional industries, is laying claim to such advantages as cheap land, easy factory lay-out, plentiful and cheap supplies of electric power and water, low building costs and rents, and various others. For the purposes of industrial development, the Wairarapa is able today to offer, or easily might place itself in a position to offer, advantages which will compare well with those to be obtained in any part of the Dominion. Land, power, water and other requirements either are already available, or can readily be made available on favourable terms. For the purposes of many Industries, the transport facilities possessed by this district are already fully adequate, and these facilities are to be improved greatly, in. the comparatively near future, by the construction of the Rimutaka tunnel.

There is in this country an altogether unwise and undesirable tendency to concentrate industries in or in the immediate vicinity of the principal centres of population. If any regard is to be paid to national welfare and security, this tendency must be reversed and must give place to a policy of industrial decentralisation. It is a point of material importance that industries crowded together in particular areas are excessively and needlessly exposed to the dangers of. air attack from which no 'country can today regard itself as immune.

Even if this consideration did not arise, though it most certainly does, the needless crowding of industries must still be condemned unreservedly. Comparatively small as our New Zealand cities are, the close grouping of industrial establishments has already done a great deal to bring about extremely unsatisfactory housing and general social conditions. Many young people from the provincial and rural areas betake themselves to the cities in search of working opportunities. In the outcome, too often they find themselves condemned to pay high prices for poor and congested li\ing accommodation. Obviously it would, make much more for welfare and happiness if a larger proportion of the youngfolk were able to find the employment they need in areas like the Wairarapa. From a social and community standpoint, the advantages of spreading industries throughout provincial areas are incontestable. Housing problems lend themselves to comparatively easy solution in roomy and lightly-populated regions, and there'need be no difficulty in making available to factory and other workers in these areas maximum advantages of healthy sport and recreation, as well as other amenities ol modern life. Il is quite impossible to establish equally pleasant and attractive conditions in, or in the near neighbourhood of any considerable city. When account is taken also of the factor of vulnerability in war —a factor supremely important in these days—the case for the decentralisation of industry is rounded and complete. Excellent reasons appear for establishing in provincial and rural areas even some industries which might, on grounds of mere economy, be established more advantageously in one or other of the cities of the Dominion. There is not much doubt that the decentralisation of industry will proceed inevitably in New Zealand, as in other countries, but any provincial area like the Wairarapa which desires to participate in this development must bestir itself enterprisingly, ft is a matter largely of offering on attractive terms the facilities that are needed by industrialists. Amongst other things, local authorities must be prepared to exercise foresight, in dealing with such questions as power and water supply and rating. Particularly in giving thought to the interests and continuing welfare of young people, every man and woman in a district like the Wairarapa may find good reasons for doing what they can, not only to support, but to help to promote the policy of enterprise that is needed.