"ANTEDILUVIAN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1945, Page 9

"ANTEDILUVIAN"

MANUFACTURERS' VIEW

Describing many of the remarks made as the "revival of an antediluvian doctrine in an unscientific form," Mr. Lan Matheson, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, said today that manufacturers could nevertheless agree partially with the statement attributed to Mr. A. Linton. Manufacturers agreed to the extent that New Zealand had to preserve and develop the fullest possible two-way trade with Great Britain. They did not agree, however, that this cancelled out the intelligent development of domestic manufacturing industries in New Zealand. Manufacturing consumer goods in New Zealand, while it affected slightly the nature of British goods imported, did not and would not affect the total volume or money value of Britain s export trade with the Dominion. '•Mr. Linton evidently fox-gets that the great proportion of our population surplus to the wants of primary industries lias to be employed gainfully," Mr. Matheson declared. "If 120,000 of these people can be employed in manufacturing industries and therefore in productive and wealthcreating work in New Zealand, I suggest to Mr. Linton that this is a good thing for the farmer as well as the rest of the community. Again, Mr. Linton might notice that the , production of consumer goods in this country, besides providing gainful" employment, conserves our sterling funds for., the purchase of heavier, more expensive, and luxury goods from Britain. This ensures that we patronise Britain's largest employing industries, and besides safeguarding our standard of living, gives it some opportunity of rising." Mr. Matheson said that Mr. Linton s remarks, and the resolution that they "fathered," were all the more unfortunate in the light of a growing recognition among farmers and manufacturers of their great and mutual responsibility as New Zealand's main wealth producers in meeting an immediate problem in national and economic rehabilitation. "A huge volume of gainful re-employment has to be provided for returning servicemen; our natural manufacturing resources have Ito be fully worked to help meet the [expense of social and economic reestablishment; and we have also to trade with Great Britain to as great an extent, if not greater extent, than prewar," he said. "When all sections of the nation are working towards this great end, misleading and sweeping statements such as that made by Mr. Linton are to be regretted and discouraged," said Mr. Matheson.