INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 5

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE

REPLY TO CRITICISM OF DEPARTMENT MR SULLIVAN’S BUDGET SPEECH From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 10. Criticism of the industries and commerce, and the supply and munitions departments was answered by the Mm* ister in charge (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives this evening. He described criticism by the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) a* desperately unfair to a large body of fine men and women who were doing, and had done, a magnificent job. The Leader of the Opposition had made reference, possibly humourously, to the “inefficiency and chaos department.” He wanted to say directly that there was no confusion, no inefficiency, and no chaos in the department. I £ha efforts of manufacturers and workers under the direction of the department had earned the commendation of the highest experts, who said that difficult technical jobs were being done in . a way that would compare favourably with the best done elsewhere. New Zealand was now exporting some munitions. The achievement of manufacturers had been assisted by the sympathetic attitude of the Government. Since the Government had assumed office, an average of almost three new factories had been opened every week, and 120 more persons had been put into productive industry every week in that time. Mr Sullivan said it had been suggested in the past that businessmen should be engaged to give efficiency. If there were inefficiency now, then he • had to ask himself the question, and the Leader of the Opposition would have to ask lymself the same question, whether it was due to taking businessmen into the organisation, or whether it would not have been better to get competent working men without business training. The control of the organisation, subject to the Government and the Minister, was m the hands of what appeared to the Government to be the best men available in business, assisted by trained faithful, public servants. Manpower Problems Some of the manpower difficulties in New Zealand industry were mentioned by Mr Sullivan, who used tobacco factories as an illustration. They were getting behind with tobacco supplies, he said. It was not so much because of a shortage, although there was a shortage, too. of raw material: but because it had been simply impossible to get sufficient girls into the factories so that the output of tobacco could be maintained. The department and the National Service Department had done their best; but could not get all the manpower they were wanting. That was th 6 kind of problem created by the manpower shortage. The possibility of the development of the linen flax textile industry in Nev Zealand as part of the contribution manufacturing could play in rehabilitation plans was mentioned by the Minister. He said that arrangements of 8 promising character had been made which, it was hoped, would lead to the development of a great New Zealand textile industry. Among other industries mentioned by Mr Sullivan were iron and steel, sugar beet, dehydration of vegetables, canning and paper making. _____________ Fascist Officials Interned.—lt was officially announced from Tripoli today, according to a Cairo message, that the remaining seven leading Fascist officials in Tripolitania. including the vice-governor and two prefects, whost services are no longer required by the British military administration, h»V$. \ bean lnteraad.-Rnghy__.Dip A .o^,: ;^t^