N. Z. LAGGING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 4

N. Z. LAGGING

WAR PREPARATIONS

PLAN FOR CO-OPERATION

(O.C) WELLINGTON, this day. "I do not think that we are doing nearly all that can be done in the way of providing munitions and other needs for the Armed Forces of the Empire," said Mr. W. W. Millholland. president of the Xew Zealand Farmers' Union, addressing the annual conference to-day. "They need clothing and similar goods fo'r which our primary industries produce the raw materials. True, we have not unlimited plant. But let our work-people know the urgency, and free them from hampering restrictions, and they will get the utmost production possible.

"I noted a suggestion the other day,"' he said, "that. New Zealand and Australia should be organised for the production of munitions on a unit, basis. We, in New Zealand would produce those parts of guns' munitions and war machines which required much labour and little material, consequently involving comparatively little transport. The

finished parts would be sent to an assembling plant in one of the Australian States where, from other sources, other parts would come for final assembly, thus making New Zealand a unit in a huge Empire war factory in the Pacific.

"The energetic operation of such a scheme as this would übviate any possibility of unemployment due to the adjustment of industry to a war basis. Indeed, the main obstacle in the way of obtaining the full results desired would be the difficulty of obtaining sufficient labour. "Of course this means organisation raining and energetic direction. I believe that the Government is moving in this direction, but. it is moving far too slowly for the urgency of the times."