LICENSED INDUSTRIES

Evening Star, Issue 22525, 18 December 1936, Page 2

LICENSED INDUSTRIES

TEN GAZETTED UNDER EFFICIENCY ACT NEW MEASURES TAKE EFFECT MINISTER OUTLINES THEIR PURPOSE [Psa UuiTsa Peiss Association.] "WELLINGTON, December 17. The announcement that the Government had licensed 10 industries was made this afternoon by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). Mr Sullivan stated that under the provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, certain industries had now been gazetted as licensed industries. Such industries could be carried on only pursuant to a license issued by the Bureau of Industry, as provided in the Act. The ‘ Gazette ’ notice relates to the following industries:— The manufacture of products consisting of a combination of asbestos and cement. The manufacture of rubber tyres and tubes for all types of vehicles. The manufacture of electric ranges, including the assembly of the parts thereof. The importation and/or wholesale distribution of motor spirit. The manufacture of pumps or the assembly of the parts thereof for the distribution of motor spirit. The retail sale and distribution of motor spirit. The business of any chemist or druggist carried on by the keeping of any open shop or place for the compounding or dispensing of prescriptions. The manufacture of cement, Portland, and other structural or building cement. The manufacture of rennet. The manufacture of phosphatic fertilisers. The Minister emphasised that in respect of any industry that is already being carried on at the date of notice, provided the industry is carried on without a change of premises, no license is required until December 1, 1938. Such date, however, can be varied by any subsequent notice in the ‘ Gazette ’ The Minister said the effect of this provision is to exempt in the interim all existing units carrying on any of the industries named in the notice. Where the industry concerned is a" new one to New Zealand (for example, the manufacture of rubber tyres and tubes) the effect of this notice is that any unit desiring to carry on that industry will need to procure » license. These in dustries have been gazetted in order to carry out the objects and purpose of the Industrial Efficiency Act, said the Minister. With regard to industries new to New Zealand, in each case several firms desire to commence the industry concerned, although it is obvious that to allow all such firms to commence would result in cut-throat competition and needless waste. In several instances the various persons interested as applicants for a license are agreed that there is scope in New Zealand upon an economic basis for, say, only one or two production units. The Government desires to ensure that the industries concerned are on the right basis from theircommencement rather’ than to wait until the conditions might necessitate Government intervention and regulation. In respect to existing industries, those gazetted are all in which the existing facilities are such that inquiries should be made as to whether in the national interest further units were desirable before any such units should be allowed < to commence operations. The Minister stressed that in regard to licensing, the public interest was paramount, although the purpose of the powers conferred by the Act was also to assist those who are engaged or who wished to engage in any particular industry. Under the provision of the Industrial Efficiency Act the Government had, if required, the power to control in the public interest the prices of the products of any industry, whether licensed or not. In regard to the setting up of the Bureau of Industry as a licensing authority, the Minister stated that he would probably be in a position very shortly to announce the personnel of the bureau.