“WASTAGE OF LABOUR”

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 172, 18 April 1939, Page 11

“WASTAGE OF LABOUR”

Undesirable Feature Of Import Control “Much has been said of the 'benefits local secondary industries are receiving from the institution of the present system of importation under licence; I think in many cases the benefits will prove to be illusory and in all cases desirable industries can be better protected by suitable adjustments in the Customs tariff,” said Mr. C. J. Mac-Gibbon, chairman of the Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce, at its annual meeting, last night. “Most of us will agree that New Zealand should not remain purely a producer of primary products. Secondary industries are essential to our econmic welfare, but 1 do not think the present regulations are a sufficient guarantee to the security of any industry dependent upon them. “A most undesirable feature of the import regulations is the immense amount of unproductive labour. involved. Only those with an intimate knowledge of the administration Jn Government offices and in importing warehouses have any conception of the great wastage of labour involved in the functioning of the import regulations. This vast amount of labour does not produce a bale of wool, a box of butter, a carcase of meat, clothes to wear or anything useful at all. It is sheer waste, and the question arises, can we afford it?” Mr. Mac Gibbon said his views were not necessarily those of the board of the junior chamber.