Industrialist Predicts Marriage Of Farming, Manufacturing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 12

Industrialist Predicts Marriage Of Farming, Manufacturing

New Zealand farmers and manufacturers will be “married” into a great single industry making the world’s most sophisticated agriculturally - based finished products, predicts the managingdirector of U.E.B. Industries (Mr J. N. C. Doig).

In a guest editorial in the agricultural chemical magazine “Service,” Mr Doig, one of New Zealand’s most successful industrialists, paints a picture of vision and hope for the economic future of New Zealand.

“We are living in the most exciting period of history. We have gained more scientific and technical knowledge in the last 25 years than in the rest of recorded history, and we are capable of doubling that knowledge in the next 10 years,” Mr Doig said. “To me, the big question which governs the future of this country is: What use are we going to make of that knowledge?” If New Zealand would make maximum use of this precious thing, he visualised six significant developments. “First, a revolution in the processing of our farm and forest products to act as a springboard for the future export development upon which our economic lives depend. “In 10 years’ time, women here and overseas may well be weaving fabrics made from a combination of wool and wood processed through something that looks like a papermaking machine, which will probably print the fabrics, too. It may even produce finished garments. “Sooner than that, I hope, the 40 per cent of bone and fat which animal carcases contain will be turned in New Zealand factories into a fan-

tastic range of products from paint to nitro-glycerine and pharmaceuticals, instead of being sold at giveaway prices in unprocessed or semiprocessed form. Our milk exports will, I think, go overseas not so much as powder, butter, or cheese but in the form of pre-packaged instant desserts incorporating our fruits as well.

“Many other possibilities come to mind but the greatest r’ all is that farmers and manufacturers will be ‘married’ into a great single industry making the world’s most sophisticated agriculturallyfinished products. “Second, the accelerated development of science-based industry to export not only goods but know-how. “In agriculture and medicine, particularly, New Zealand is one of the world’s scientific innovators. Time and time again, however, we turn over to other countries and know-how for them to develop into products. Why are we not a major exporter of heart-lung machines, prenatal transfusion equipment, foetal stethoscopes, specialised agricultural implements and equipment, and so on, all of which have been developed on a major scale in other countries? We should be. “Third, a massive complex of leisure-based industry. “Travel, relaxation, and pleasure are being sought on an ever-increasing scale by people of the affluent nations. New Zealand and the Cook Islands have unique attractions in this field.

“Transport, food and drink, resort development, accommodation, entertainment, boatbuilding, and many other fields of activity to make leisure more leisurely and pleasurable are only in an embryonic stage here. They must and will grow spectacularly, or much of the world—and its money—will pass us by. “Fourth, assistance in

world economic development. “Half the world's population will go to bed hungry tonight, A big proportion of these people will be diseased, ill-clad and poorly-housed.

“New Zealand can make an immense, specialised contribution to alleviating this situation. Perhaps not in terms of money, but in the provision of specialised skills, and in joint venture manufacturing operations in the under-developed nations we can not only do our humanitarian duty but also help establish rich markets for what we make ourselves. “Fifth, an upsurge in the communications field. “Computerised libraries, translating and trading machines, communications satellites, television and telecommunications, print and sound media—development in this field has been great but we are now on the threshhold of even greater things. We must play our part in this revolution, nationally and internationally. “Sixth, re-education for automation.

"The fact that many manufacturing operations can now

be completely automated, with a few machines able to do the work of many men, will have its effect here—and sooner than most people think. This will involve, if there is not to be massive unemployment, a very large job-retaining programme.” M- Doig then asks, “Where then, do we go from here? What must we do to create the climate in which these targets can be achieved?” He suggests some of th« ( steps:— “We must aim for a worldbased economy. Industry must be reorganised in order to enjoy the economics of largescale production. “The Government should continue its policy of doing away with import controls and replacing them with tariffs. The Free Trade Agreement with Australia should continue to expand. “The Government should assist or permit the establishment of a development bank —perhaps something along the lines of the United Kingdom’s Industrial Reorganisation Corporation. “We should welcome overseas capital.

“Taxation should be adjusted to encourage the development of industry based on indigenous raw materials—e.g., fishing, leather, wool, foodstuffs, processing, minerals—and export incentives should be expanded and put on a permanent basis. This must be a bi-partisan policy and placed outside the political arena.

“The Government must make more use of businessmen and union heads as official advisers on the United States pattern. In turn, business must be prepared to accept Government and labour as partners in the establishment of new relationships aimed at productivity, efficiency, and fair shares for all who contribute to this productivity. “Greater expenditure on research and education is essential. We must choose the industrial and agricultural fields in which we can make the most spectacular gains and concentrate on them.”

“A big job?” Mr Doig asks. “Yes,” he says. “But if we attempt any less we face a poor future. Now is the time to be bold.”