MANUFACTURE OF RUBBER GOODS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 6

MANUFACTURE OF RUBBER GOODS

Proposals pf Dunedin Company

MINISTER'S REPLY TO COMPLAINTS

fTUB PRESS Special Service.] ■ ■' DUNEDIN, January 1. "My attention has been drawn to a press message from Dunedin concerning the manufacture of rubber products and certain other goods, a number of which are already being made in New Zealand orfor which substitutes in alternative materials are being produced in the Dominion, or the importation of which from the United Kingdom is still permitted," says a statement issued bv the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in reply to complaints made by Mr Neil Mcßae, managing director of Messrs Neil Mcßae and Company, Ltd., and promoter of a new company/Dolfite (N.Z.), Ltd.

j "The Government," Mr Sullivan said, "has given very serious consideration and much thought to the complaints. The proposals involve the allocation of a substantial amount of overseas funds, some of which represent dollars, which are so urgently required at the present tune by the Imperial Government and her allies at present. Other more important industries already established in New Zealand have a prior right to sterling and other overseas funds to enable them to secure the necessary ! raw materials to carry on as effectively as posi sible. It is true that a licence from the Bureau j of Industry, which is under my administration, | and under the Industrial Efficiency Act, to com- \ mence the manufacture of the items proposed 1 by the Dolfite company was not required for the reason that none of them came within the definition of any industry licensed under that act; but a licence to import machinery and raw materials must always be applied for in detail to the Customs Department, and cannot be procured by anyone. Moreover, the company did not receive any assurance that its application would be granted. "To sum up the position," Mr Sullivan concluded, "the applicant fails ;,to realise that a very essential point at the present time, owing to the heavy demand on available sterling funds, is that the Government must necessarily give preference to industries already established in the Dominion; but I hope the time will shortly arrive when the company's application can be reconsidered, as I am very keen to see new economic industries established, and will continue to do my best to help." ._..;