A NOVEL SUGGESTION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 11

A NOVEL SUGGESTION.

* LOTTERY TO PROVIDE A FLEET OF WHALERS. (THE PBESS Special Service] WELLINGTON, September 21. An original note was struck by Mr W. J. Galloway in proposing the toast of "The Engineering Industry" at the annual smoke concert of the New Zealand Institute of Marino and Power Engineers oa Saturday evening, when he suggested a novel wav of encouraging engineering. Mr Galloway stressed the part that the engineering industry had played, and had- yet to play tn the maintenance of commercial supremacy for Great Britain. He remarked that to many the significance of the Great War was but a memory, but he couici remember the time when ignorant of the fact that they were also purchasing bullets for themselves New Zealanders bought goods mado in the countries which were soon to become her foes.

"To me it is disturbing to see New Zealand goods carried by snips fiymg a foreign flag." ho said. "To-day there left our harbour a fleet of whale clmserß. Their flag was not that of Britain, and so far as I am aware nono of the seamen is British. Here is a great fortune leaving ■ our shores annually. Here are the fruits of one of our most promising industries gathered in by foreigners. "There have recently been several art unions for the support of various sports bodies. These are, of course, very worthy objects, and I say this in all sincerity, but here is an object ot untold possibilities —the establishment of a company for the exploitation of the whaling industry of New Zealand by New Zealanders. I suggest the introduction of a State lottery, the proceeds of which should go to bring into being a State company for this very purpose. Let us use the sporting instincts of our people to open and develop our new industries.

"The possibilities of the whaling industry in New Zealand are nothing less than dazzling, and the huge profits which I am sure would result from this venture oould be put to a hundred uses. I plead for Press publicity foi this scheme, and I feel sure that if it is put into operation. ifwill.be justified in the employment which it will give to many of our men, and also in the great wealth which it vn'K bring into the Dominion. "