WILL BE PROTECTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1937, Page 12

WILL BE PROTECTED

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

UNFAIR COMPETITION

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT

An emphatic statement that the Government's policy for the expansion of manufacturing in New Zealand would include protection of local industries from unfair competition from imports was made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) when the "Standard" referred to him information from manufacturers that if there were any threat to the prosperity of local industries, it would come from imports—particularly clothing and footwear—of bad quality, or from the dumping of overseas end-of-season goods at cut prices. . "I cannot say at toe moment what method or methods will be adopted, but I can say that the Government realises that New Zealand's manufacturing industries have to be protected from undercutting by shoddy imported goods," said Mr. Savage. "Anything that can reasonably be produced here must be produced here. The Government intends to see that it is produced, and the Government wyi take steps for the protection of that production. "If I. say, 'This country is going to have everything necessary for a full enjoyment of life by its people and we are going to see that the people have a full share in that production,' I think everyone will understand me," added the Prime Minister. "It may be necessary to employ the Customs system to ensure the wellbeing of local manufactures," added Mr. Savage, "though where agreement between nations is possible the use of Customs is stupid. We will adopt every means in our power not only to preserve but to raise the standard of living." REACTIONS OVERSEAS. Asked whether the implementing, of such a policy might have reactions in overseas countries with which New Zealand was trading, Mr. Savage said: "The people on the other side of the world are well aware by now of what our objective is—the full enjoyment of our own productive resources." He indicated that there would be no need for the production of shoddy goods or for their dumping outside a home market if the various countries had a common policy of fostering the well-being of their populations by raising standards of living. Asked how long it would take the Government to make a survey of the industrial possibilities of New Zealand in the light of this increased determination to expand manufacturing production, the Prime Minister said it would probably be a few months be-i fore it would be possible to formulate s. 'comprehensive, constructive policy. "I know that some people will be impatient." added Mr. Savage, "and I know that others will think that we are doing the wrong thing; but we have been doing some thinking on our own account and. if there is any red light of danger, we will see it as soon as anyone. There will be many difficulties in the way, but we will solve them.

"I can forgive those who are impatient," concluded the Prime Minister, "but I would like to remind them that we, as a Government, have a record for work performed that is unsurpassed—and that is putting it modestly. We will work no less energetically in the future, and our work will be less of the remedial variety and more of the constructive."