Government commitment

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 30

Government commitment

The Government had a continuing commitment to help small businesses meet the challenges of the future, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Templeton, told a small-business workshop recently. The emphasis in help was on counselling and advice. “Management is the key to growth and development,” Mr Templeton said. Critical areas for smallbusiness finance included start-up operations — including tax, and especially for expansion, the Minister said. One of the firms he put forward as a successful example was Betta Metals, of Christchurch, a sheet-metal firm which has used sophisticated machinery, techno-

logical knowledge, and marketing expertise to grow spectacularly. Mr Templeton said he was seeking as Minister of Trade and Industry to focus attention on 1984 as a year of: ® Small business and its expansion. ® Greater use of technology- ® Better quality, design, and understanding of the market. The Development Finance Corporation suggested that there were about 100,000 small businesses in the country, the Minister said. There had been 80,000 when National developed the Small Business Agency as policy in 1975-76.