Call On Manufacturers To Boost Exports

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 24

Call On Manufacturers To Boost Exports

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 11.

The obvious contribution manufacturers could make to hasten the recovery of the New Zealand economy would be to increase exports, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today.

There was obviously room for expansion of exports. Of all goods New Zealand manufacturers produced less than 2 per cent were exported, Mr Holyoake told the annual conference of the Manufacturers’ Federation in Wellington today.

“I ask you to think seriously if you are doing enough about all aspects of exporting,” he said. “Now, when the home market is less demanding than usual, you have the opportunity and the incentive to sell more overseas.”

Mr Holyoake was not prepared to forecast how long New Zealand’s economic difficulties would last. “But I am convinced that through our own efforts we can do much to ease the strain and hasten recovery,” he said. “The obvious contribution that manufacturers can make is to increase exports.” The Prime Minister said New Zealand manufacturers were demonstrating their ability to compete with the industrial nations of the world. “But trade missions and other broad frontal attacks are not enough,” he said. “They must be supported by solid ground-work, sheer hard slogging by salesmen from manufacturers who can get right into overseas markets and use modern methods for all they are worth.” Mt Holyoake said rates of growth and standards of living would depend heavily on the extent to which New Zealand manufacturers increased their earnings from exports. Got Assistance He said the Government helped by providing attractive incentives and by supplying promotional and advisory services. “There may be other things we can do and it may be that

existing services can be extended or improved,” said Mr Holyoake. "If so, we welcome your suggestions and we will consider them most carefully.” The Prime Minister also

stated at the conference that saving overseas funds by substituting New Zealand goods for imports deserved very close attention at present. “The maximum possible use

sure that industries receiving protection actually did save overseas funds, it must be careful not to over-empha-sise the importance of production, it needed to give more consideration to whether New Zealand was getting the best possible return from the resources used in production. Th- Prime Minister said that recent industrial development had been very broad. Growth Prospects “This has been desirable because it has been urgently necessary to get industry) moving fast and we have done so,” he said. !“But m future we should be more selective in development. “We must identify and encourage those industries which have the best prospects for growth, the greatest export potential, and offer the highest returns now and in five or 10 years time.” The first steps had been taken to obtain a better idea of where industry should be going and exploratory talks had started between the federation’s economic planning committee, the Treasury and the Department of Industries and Commerce.

“The task of developing the

should be made of local/ resources,” he said. Mr Holyoake sounded three notes of caution. The Government must be

manufacturing part of our economy must be approached objectively and energetically, with skill and foresight,” he said. •

New Zealand had to reduce the economy’s vulnerability to external influences by building a modern and viable manufacturing industry.