A STRONG PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 15

A STRONG PROTEST

SHIPPING AND MOTOR BODY BUILDING

Mr. W. Thomson (editor of "The New' Zealander") addressed a meeting on Friday evening. He first dealt 'with motor body building and asked why did the Government permit an industry like _ it to languish, when, by careful legislation, work could be found in normal times for 8000 men. He spoke of it as a natural New Zealand industry, where we had an abundance of timber, of men, and of the means to do the work. Let it be temernbered that small New Zealand sent nearly £45,000,000 of money to America in ten years (1921-30 inclusive), and yet America refused our goods. One wonders wha£ the Government of these times was thinking about. If the people of this country only understood the seriousness *of out blunders, which we are now feeling in the neck, there would be a universal demand to have all motor bodies built .in New Zealand, thereby giving regular work to thousands of our own men.

Referring to the Matson Line, which was heavily subsidised by the U.S.A. Government, and which traded here under fconditions which were sternly refused to British ships in American waters, Mr. Thomson said .that a great injustice had been done to New Zealand

How New Zealand tolerates it, it was difficult to say. "Our own shipping is seriously menaced," he added.' "The work is being taken from our own sailors, and our own industry threatened. I strongly appeal to the Government and to every member of Parliament to have, it stopped— and I ask you to support our campaign as strongly as yon can."

■ Mr. Thomson then moved: "That this meeting of Wellington citizens strongly asks the Government and every member of Parliament to act at once so that the menace of the Matson Line may be removed, and that all motor bodies be built

in New Zealand." The^motion was unanimously carried,

Mr. Thomson then thanked the audience, and intimated that he had to go up the East1 Coast. of the North Island, after which he would return to Wellington 'and.speak every night, until the Government granted the requests;