LOCAL INDUSTRIES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20735, 20 February 1939, Page 8

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

COOPERATION OF LABOUR RAW MATERIALS SURVEY MEETING LARGER MARKET (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Monday A statement that following the import restrictions the work of stimulating local industries to fill the gap was proceeding satisfactorily was made 10-day by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The Minister said every effort was being made to ensure that the necessary raw materials were made available to the manufacturing committee which had already met the representatives of eighty firms and industries to ascertain their resources and capacity to meet the larger market. Questions of finance, supply of labour, marketing and maintenance of standards without price increases had all

been discussed.

Special attention at the moment was being given the question of training labour for skilled occupations. The New Zealand Standards Institute was also busy on the task of either preparing New Zealand standards or adjusting overseas standards to ensure that quality was maintained. The Labour Output The subject of output per unit of labour was receiving attention. National organisations of labour had expressed fheir willingness to co-operate with the Government with a view to securing the best output possible. This was one of the most important aspects of the whole problem of readjusting New Ze-aland industry’- to meet the new responsibilities that had been imposed upon It.

If the co-operation of workers In stimulating output to meet the needs of the country was withheld the effort now being made to produce the goods required would not succeed. He was pleased to say this fact was realised by the leaders of labour.

The Minister appealed for the full co-operation of all to do their very best In the production of goods and services and thus enahlo the Government and people to build a stronger economy in New Zealand. A survey by officers of the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research to ascertain to what extent it is possible to substitute local for imported raw materials will be begun in Auckland this week, according to an announcement by Mr Sullivan. Referring to the recent, import restrictions. Mr Sullivan said these had raised many interesting problems regarding raw materials for further development and the expansion of local manufacturing industries. Scientific research would have to play an important part in the solution of these problems. Necessity for Research The raw materials required might be roughly classified into four classes —raw material produced in New Zealand and of desirable standard of quality, raw material produced in New Zealand hut which at present was not up 1o- the desired standard for certain higher grade articles, raw materials at present imported but which might now be produced locally, and raw materials which must still be imported. Mr Sullivan said he would he glad if any cases of difficulty regarding raw materials could be brought to the notice of the department to enable such advice and information as was available to be given and to provide for the investigation or research necessary for the successful foundation of manufacturing industries utilising these raw materials in the immediate future.