Manufacturers 'fed up’

Press, 9 July 1983, Page 9

Manufacturers 'fed up’

The New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation is “fed up” with attacks on manufacturers by the Federated Farmers, according to the federation’s president, Mr Earl Richardson. “Whenever they have a problem, they lash out at manufacturers,” said Mr Richardson yesterday. He said the comments

made by Federated Farmers’ president, Mr Bob Storey, this week that farmers were being singled out for special treatment by the Government were “simply not valid.” “All sectors have been told to improve their efficiency and build on their strengths,” he said.

Manufacturers had been restructuring themselves over the last five years in response to industry studies, other policy changes, and now the C.E.R. agreement with Australia. Mr Richardson said he did not intend indulging in a “slanging match” with Federated Farmers. “We represent the two

main productive sectors in the economy and instead of attacking each other we‘ should be working together for the good of the whole country.” Mr Richardson said he hoped to have a meeting with Mr Storey and other Federated Farmers officers within the next week.