Industrial Development

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 10

Industrial Development

Possibly it was pride of parenthood that caused Mr Holloway, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, to say at the end of the industrial development conference that it had provided New Zealand with “a worthy “blueprint for the future”. At present not many would be inclined to agree with him. The common understanding of the term “ blueprint ” is a plan or design that may be read clearly and without misunderstanding. The conference cannot be judged until all the reports and resolutions are available for study; but an interim judgment made from the papers and from necessarily abbreviated reports of discussions would be that in very few sectors did the conference reach conclusions that could be set down clearly, and about whose interpretation there could be no dispute. This was especially true of papers and discussions which brought the respective interests of primary and secondary industries into dispute. Indeed, it may event-

ually be shown that the conference served its best purpose in serving as a forum for argument For instance, as our commercial editor points out in a review of the conference, theories about New Zealand’s industrial development commonly accepted in recent years were attacked so authoritatively that their sponsors will be cautious before they bring them forward again. Another instance was the challenge that the few, but able, representatives of agriculture offered to the thesis that development of secondary industries can proceed without effect upon the primary industries. One of the chief results of the conference should indeed, some rethinking by industrial expansionists. There need be no disagreement, however, with the opinions of several speakers about the stimulating nature of the conference; the presence of some of New Zealand’s best intellects ensured invigorating discussion. Let us hope that intelligible guidance will come from it all.