PROJECTED NEW INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 6

PROJECTED NEW INDUSTRY

Comment on Possible Government Help By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, April 20. Reference to the project to erect a factory in Christchurch for the production of tires and to a proposal that the Government should assist this new industry was made at to-night’s meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of commerce. “Protection is one thing, said the president, Mr. N. R. Wilson, but monopoly is another. Moreover, the economic factor of competition with British tires is no small one at the present time. We have the Hon. M. Nash in England endeavouring to arrange trade reciprocity and it must.be obvious that we are not in a position to offend Great Britain, our chief customer for primary products. Mr. J. S. Skinner said that the. Government’s proposal to contribute £250,000 toward the company’s capital was contrary to the ideals of chambers of commerce, which were against the interference of the Government in business. as the ultimate cost would be on the shoulders of the taxpayer. Mr. H. L. Longbottom said that the industry came under the Ind list rial Efficiency Act. and would have to be investigated by the Bure.au of Industry before a company could be'’started in the Dominion. Mr. AV. D. G. Hartley considered that some of the Australian companies were not flourishing very well. The chairman: “Anyway, perhaps we were right to draw the attention of the .associated chambers to the matter.”