"EXAGGERATED”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 11

"EXAGGERATED”

MANUFACTURERS’ PLAINT.

ALARM UNJUSTIFIED. MR SULLIVAN’S REJOINDER. (By Telegrapn.—rresa Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. "The whole atmosphere of Mr O’Shea’s story is one of much exaggeration." said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon D. G. Sullivan, in reply to a statement issued by the Manufacturers’ Federation. "By that I mean that there is some truth In it. but much absurdity. “Various manufacturing firms have written to me voluntarily stating that despite the restoration of wages, the forty-hour week and Increased Importation they have more than held their own In the market and are not alarmed and have profited by the Increased purchasing power provided by Government legislation,” added the Minister. "We should not be asked to protect Inefficiency.” Referring to examinations of industries by speoial officers, the Minister said surprisingly little Information had been placed before him or his officers In support of the manufacturers’ case for increased protection.

"Until this week,” he said, "The Government has been far more active in endeavouring to get useful information on the subjeot than the manufacturers had been In trying to help the Government.”

Tiie Minister deplored the action of Mr O’Shea in selecting the morning of the arrival of Mr Savage to publish an outburst of alarm. He said the melodramatic language in which the statement was couched was unnecessary and it looked as if the Manufacturers’ Federation had emerged into party politics.

A message from Wellington on Tuesday stated that New Zealand manufacturers were seriously alarmed at the imminent prospect of a tremendous slump in factory production, accompanied >by widespread unemployment and that the secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association. Mr R. O’Shea, stated that this critical state of 'affairs was by no means exaggerated. -