CASE FOR SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 308, 23 September 1943, Page 8

CASE FOR SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Prime Minister’s Address

“It is absolutely essential _ that we should have secondary industries in New Zealand,” said the Prime Minister, Air. Fraser, speaking in the Oddfellows’ Hall, AVellington. last night. "The day is gone when the Dominion could remain merely the dairy-farm of the British Empire, AVhen some of our opponents recklessly and foolishly talk about, removing import control they are holding out the possibility of chaotic conditions for. the people.”

There was an attendance of about 80. Mr. F. C. Allerby presiding. The speaker received a favourable hearing, though a hostile element was disclosed at question time. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried with four dissentients. Explaining the reasons for the institution of import control. Air. Fraser said that New Zealand’s sterling funds in London were down to a point where the Dominion might have lost all its credit abroad and become regarded as a bankrupt nation. The Government would have been betraying the country if it had allowed that to happen. The only way to stop it was to control imports in a common-sense way. If control were now removed, secondary industries would be swamped and ruined and thousands of employees would literally be thrown into the street. AVhen Labour’s opponents talked of removing' control they knew that there was no possibility of doing so. “Air. Doidge is entirely wrong when he says that if we set up secondary industries avc will antagonize Britain,” said Mr. Fraser. A few selfish people in Britain might be antagonized, but he knew that the Government of Britain and the Government of the United States would give New Zealand every encouragement and would facilitate the import of raw materials for the development of secondary industries here. While the amount of iron ore at Onekaka was nowhere near as great as had been originally thought, said Mr. Fraser, it was enough, with the Taranaki ironsand, to establish a substantial industry and lay the foundation for further industries. In fact, it was possible that, even if there had been no iron ore, an industry could have been established with the Taranaki iron-sand alone. “AVhen Mr. Doidge says that the secondary industries we are building up will collapse like a house of cards, the answer , is. not if a Labour Government -is m office,” said Mr. Fraser. It would be a mistaken policy, however, to draw all the people into the larger cities. A survey would be made to ascertain what industries should be established in various parts of the country, so that young people could get work near their homes. “Is the Prime Minister aware of weaknesses in the administrative side of the Social Security Department?” asked a questioner, quoting the case of a man with four children who broke a leg and had to wait 12 weeks before he received any payment "because of the apathy of social security officials.” “I .will be pleased to have particulars of that case,” said Air. Fraser. “That is not our idea at all. People are entitled by right to courteous and expeditious treatmej'.” Later Air. Fraser spoke on similar lines at Roseneath. where there was an attendance of about 40. Mr. AV. V. Ellen presided. A resolution was adopted unanimously expressing appreciation of Air. Fraser’s past services, confidence in him as member for AVellington Central and as Prime Alinister and pledging support' at the election.