Survey Of Resources For N.Z.’s Development Sought

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 14

Survey Of Resources For N.Z.’s Development Sought

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 1. A Royal Commission to consider all aspects of New Zealand’s development in the next 20 years .is suggested by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. R. Tipping). “I believe a Royal Commission should consider all the circumstances of our development, our resources of men ana materials, our needs and the possibilities of export—and advise upon a basis for national development over the next 20 years," he told the Chamber’s annual meeting tonight. “The survey should be a ’highpowered’ one, with leading men from overseas, a geologist, a scientist and an economist coopted. “While searching intensively for subsidiary outlets for exports —at this stage almost entirely

primary products—the Dominion should also investigate the potential of industrial production, plan its industries and commercial pattern according to .its rapidly-increasing population, and realise the time is fast arriving when it must endeavour to develop export trade in industrial products,” he said. Private enterprise had to get out and sell its goods, but in an overall national “gearing-up" the Government must inevitably play an important part. It must take the lead in the drive. New Zealand’s population increase was one of the highest in the world. In the next 20 years, the population would increase by 800,000. Of this number, only a minority—between 10 and 20 per gent.—would be accommodated on the land. The chamber welcomed the proposals of the National Government to replace tlie present Department of Industries and Commerce with a new Department of Trade. Mr Tipping said he trusted the new Government would not reject these out of hand, but consider them seriously. The proposals, though only in a preliminary stage, butlined a workable plan for a State department with the scope and sinews to measure up the country’s vital needs in both external and internal trade.