LIMIT OF DAIRY EXPANSION

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 15

LIMIT OF DAIRY EXPANSION

MUST TURN TO MANUFACTURE DEVELOPMENT OF DOMINION (Per United Press Association.] (,'H IIISTCH URCH, May 2. “ II is apparent that we have now readied the end of one definite stage of New Zealand’s economic ■ development,” said Mr A. E. Mandcr, general secretary, addressing local manufacturers to-night. “ During the Inst 40 years,” ho stated, “ our history has consisted 'mainly of the expansion of our two great primary industries—producing meat and dairy produce for export—but it appears that to-da.v we have reached the limit of expansion in this direction. By planned production and marketing these primary industries may be enabled to maintain and dispose of their present output, but that is the utmost we can reasonably hope for. There is little likelihood of further expansion being possjble. Nevertheless, the development of New Zealand as a whole mast not stop. Jf no further expansion is possible in one direction, then we must seek means of expanding our economic life in some other direction, and, if the expansion of sheep and dairy i arming has reached its limit, our only hope now is a deliberate policy of developing our manufacturing industries. “In the past manufacturers have been forced to plead for the bare right to exist, but to-day they should realise that the future of New Zealand depends on them. We are no longer asking merely for the right to exist. To-day we say to the Government, the Press, and ■ the people that what we ask is an opportunity to expand our industries, to give -more employment, to increase the spending power of the public, to enlarge the volume ot production, and thus to carry on New; Zealand’s history of development. and national growth. Nor should we be misled by the hysteria of some of the lenders of the farming industries. 1 am convinced that the great majority of reasonable farmers now recognise the truth of my contention. They are bound for their own sons and daughters’ sakes to support expansion somewhere, and what direction is there other than manufacturing where expansion is now possible ; j : “The farthers are vitally concorned also,” Mr Mander concluded “with the increasing domestic market for their produce, and here again the rapid growth of the manufacturing industries will assist materially in increasing the public’s buying power o farm-produce. For these reasons I believe that very soon the farmers will be among the strongest ot all supporters of manufacturing industries in New Zealand.”