PLEA FOR FUTURE CO-OPERATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 10

PLEA FOR FUTURE CO-OPERATION

Economic Development Of New Zealand

MINISTER DEFENDS IMPORT CONTROL Industry To Supplement Agriculture By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 22. An appeal for co-operation from all sections of the community in the economic and social development of New Zealand was made by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb, when addressing a luncheon meeting of the Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce today in discussing the Government’s actions in ipcreasing wages and decreasing hours.

Mr. Webb claimed that business men had benefited from that policy. It was impossible, he said, for them to become or remain prosperous on the empty pockets of a great spending public. “I admit that many importers might lose their jobs and their businesses or be otherwise hard hit as a result of our regulations,” Mr. Webb added. “If we had not the money at Home to pay for the things we are importing, however, they would have had to stop importing in any case.” Trade could not be in one direction only. It was impossible for a country to rely for prosperity on the produce of the cow yard and sheep run, the Minister said.

Exports had done much for New Zealand, but there had to be a stop somewhere. For some time negotiations had been proceeding with Britain on the subject of quotas, for the people of Britain felt they should be more self-supporting and should concentrate more on producing their own goods and on developing their own primary industries. Such changes in England compelled New Zealand to face adjustments in her own production, Mr. Webb continued.

It was necessary to develop every possible industry and resource that would be economical, and in that respect it was interesting to learn of a large number of overseas firms which intended transferring plant and, in some cases, labour, to the Dominion. From such activities would come greater prosperity, population and security.