OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 14

OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

DOMiniSK'S DESOURCES n HOGG'S PLEA “Twelve mouths ago I •■luted Hint the majority ut industries Had big possibilities ahead, provided 1 the Goveruiiiont gave more conaidcration to industries Ilian in the past,’ 1 .said Mr J. Hogg, the president _of the .Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association last cvcning. “Although little has hapjicned in the last twelve months to make its more optimistic, I still hold to this view of future development, if the Government stands behind the industries. As the Tariff Bill is almost due to come before the House, it would be unfair at this stage, to offer any criticism, and wo may find that the present administration has sufficient courage to meet the urgent needs of the manufacturers, .and assist the expansion of industry. “The first available figures of our New Zealand production which I can secure is for 1890, showing £9,549,360; while in 1926, the last available year, the figures _of production are £84,754,259 —an increase in thirty years of £75.201,899. The greatest and most remarkable increase of about £30,000,000 took place in a period of seven years, froin 1916 to 1923. During this period New Zealand enjoyed the natural protection _ which ■ came through the cutting off of importations during the war, and the years immediately following, and proves conclusively the tremendous arlVance that could bo made again if adequate protection was provided. One of the moat impressive developments of modern British history was the famous declaration of dominion status at the Imperial Conference <d_ 1920, which placed each one of Britain's dominions on an equality with the Mother Country. As an act of reciprocity for_ that concession, and in recognition of the market she provides for our exports we have given, and should continue to give, substantial preference to British manufacturers over foreign competitors. The report showing tho adverse trade balance in England proves the urgent necessity of more intense trade within the Empire, and it .should ho our earnest desire to secure from British sources, and particularly from Great Britain, practically all the goods ive do not produce ourselves. “Tho importations into New Zealand for 1926 show 63 per cent, as coming from the Empire’s sources and 32 per cent, from foreign sources. Our aim should he to translcr a largo portion of that foreign pcrcentagc_ of trade into British channels, for against the 32 per cent, of foreign goods we received foreign countries only took per cent, of our exports in return. Jo put it even more vividly: From 1909 to 1926 imports from British countries increased by 145 per ccnt._, while imports from foreign sources increased by GI6J- per cent. At the same time, as a unit in the Empire of which we arc so proud to belong, wo can best promote its welfare by_ developing the great resources of this of the Empire in which we live. 4Vo must therefore look around and ahead for the possible development of new industries, particularly when tho raw material can bo produced in tho dominion, and for the purpose of attracting capital from overseas. “Sir Amos Nelson, a prominent Lancashire industrialist, recently made arrangements for starting two mills in Australia, which will initiate a new commonwealtli industry in the spinning of cotton and artificial silk fabric's? Sir Amos was in New Zealand making inquiries as to tho prospects of the industry here, and he then said, ‘that tho New Zealand climate was as ideal for the spinning of cotton and silk substitutes as for woollen goods, and fbere is no natural reason wiiy this industry could not ho established hero with the happiest conditions. But what do wo find—the attraction is definitely towards Australia for Sir Amos said, ‘ the Australian Government seems willing to offer almost any inducement to projects lor the development of secondary industries.’ And this new industry in Australia found itself launched under the shelter of a protective tariff, and, encouraged by the Tariff Board, which was eager and sympathetic to help.”