NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 241, 11 October 1929, Page 16

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES.

PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. ; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, Thursday. The policy of the Government in regard to' New Zealand manufactures was touched upon ; by the. Minister.,of Industries and Commerce, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, when addressing the Wellington Manufacturers' Association this evening. The Government hoped to establish an industries board, said Mr. Cobbe,, and a Parliamentary committee had, been appointed, to report upon the secondary industries of the Dominion with a view to furthering their welfare. The Government's policy of purchasing—other things being equal—goods of New Zealand manufacture, with a bias in favour of: those industries giving a large amount of employment, was more definite than any policy, for some time. The Minister said ho was sure that Mr. J.,W. Collins, who had been appointed to the board of control in connection with, the purchase of Government stores, would givetho New Zealand manufacturers fair treatment. . , Regarding the . proposed ; industries board, Mr. Cobbe said, the Government had not been able to do all it desired, but the latter would receive the close and serious consideration, not only of , his Department, but also of his colleagues. It was necessary that something' be done at once. A Parliamentary committee had been set up, and in the recess it would visit factories in various parts of the Dominion. When the next sesson opened the committee would be in a position to report, and as a result something would be done in the direction the manufacturers desired. The Minister urged the manufacturers to advertise the value of their products among the people of New Zealand.