INDUSTRIAL PLANNING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL PLANNING

SUPPORT FOR BUREAU

APPEAL BY MINISTER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, This Day. "I consider the foundations for Industrial planning which have been made in New Zealand to.be more than the. equal of those in any other country in the world," said the Minister of! Industries' and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) on Saturday, in reference to ', the ,• establishment of the Bureau of Industry under .the Industrial Efficiency Act. "The -fact that | most highly industrialised countries are. experimenting . with industrial planning or integration suggests that it responds to the real need created by modern conditions in industry. There is no.doubt that in.the public interest such a need exists in New Zealand today. ' :: ' •' ■■.■;■

"The Government has set up the Bureau of Industry for the purpose of planning and • assisting industry, and; I desire'to make a special appeal .for the co-operation of individual and collective .business units with the bureau in its works on their behalf. I do not mean merely that' businesses shall express a.desire to co-operate, but that industries should take definite, steps to form central organisations with which

the bureau can consult, in regard. to problems concerning industry." ■. ~,

The Minister''■'stated.' that if such organisations -were sef up it would greatly facilitate the work of . the bureau, "and,. what is even more, important, the industry will then be able to speak with one voice to, reconcile any differences' Which may exist and then put forward opinions to the bureau or to the Government, which are,, in effect,, the .voice of the whole industry; '. . ■ .'■ (

"I realise that industrial planning is in an experimental' stage in New Zealand as well as elsewhere, 'and. that 'we must consequently proceed cautiously. The real problems involved are coming to.light." r,: ■ .

The -Minister said he was confident that, if the co-operation he appealed for was forthcoming, those problems would be solved." ■ .. •

"Conflicting reports have been received as .to; the.'effect of the 40-hour week on output,", jaid Mr. \ Sullivan. "Some industries have definitely benefited from the closing down of work on Saturday morning," and others have found their output to have been; reduced in the same proportion as the reduction in the number of working hours." . . , CLOSE WATCH ON PRICES. The Government was maintaining a close watch on prices,' and \vas investigating all the complaints .-made.: The. prices of goods overseas had shown a definite upward trend during the past year, he said, and as New' Zealand imported goods, to the value of £44,000,000 in: 1936 it^would be realised that even a slight rise would have' an appreciable effect on commodities within the Dominion. "Altogether the great body of people in the .Dominion are now. in a much better position than they were previously,, and, although .pr.ices have risen to some extent they have not advanced'as much as wages have."