Export Expansion Needed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31210, 7 November 1966, Page 3

Export Expansion Needed

CV.Z. Press Association! WAIRAKEI, Nov. 6. The key to New Zealand’s immediate prosperity was increased export earnings and a diversified range of exports, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) told the Textile and Garment Manufacturers’ Federation last evening. “New Zealand has been pushing it along—going to the limits of our resources. “It’s good while it lasts, but the pressure has to come off a bit to keep within our capacity—to keep things in balance,” he said. “In the process of adjust-

ment we must, of course, expect some tugging of the rope —each manufacturer strives to maintain or improve his position with what supplies are available, to obtain new materials and provide new styles to meet the demands of fashion.” During the last three years alone, New Zealand’s total production of all goods and services, at current value, had risen by £417 million to £1879 million. “After allowing for price changes, this represents an increase of more than 16 per cent in the volume of output,” he added. “That means we have achieved an average /real growth’ rate of more than 5 per cent each year,” he said. The number of New Zealanders working in factories was fast approaching 300,000

—approaching one-third of the total labour force. “This makes manufacturing by far our largest employment sector,” said Mr Marshall. The value of factory output for 1964-65 had reached £lOBB million—up more than 13 per cent on the previous year’s £962 million. Mr Marshall said that because of the high demands of a rapid growth rate in the last two years it was not for the time being possible to provide sufficient imports to meet all current demands. “Although it has been necessary to reduce the volume of imports in the current licensing period, I would like to emphasise that the provision which has been made is the second highest on record,” he said. The Minister said that in many ways the textile and

garment industry “is one of the most difficult to treat for import licensing purposes.” “This is because it is a dynamic industry, growing both in New Zealand and overseas,” he said. “It is difficult to anticipate the extent and direction of this kind of change and hence to make import licensing provisions which will adequately meet changed conditions.”