RECORD LOW LEVEL

Evening Star, Issue 25928, 21 October 1946, Page 6

RECORD LOW LEVEL

UNEMPLOYMENT IN DOMINION ■ FUTURE PLANNING OUTLINED “ One of the outstanding problems confronting all countries at present is a guarantee against unemployment,” said the Prime Minister, Right Hon. P. Fraser, in a statement to-day. “ Hero we are in this fortunate position. The number of disengaged persons has reached a record low level for New Zealand, there being only a few hundred semi-employable and transients. It is necessary, however, to plan eo that at no time in the future will we be faced with any serious unemployment. “New Zealand, situated as she is, and dependent to a very large extent on her primary production, cannot for a number of years look to increase to any great extent her overseas funds by the export of manufactured goods. However, as the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. C. F. Skinner, has pointed out repeatedly, there is one phase of both primary and secondary industry, the production of timber, pinus insignis and other exotics with which she can definitely build up an export trade with Australia. ' That country will always be an importer of soft woods. “The plan for full employment , is based on the known facte as affecting primary production and secondary industries already established. . The labour required for the development of hydro-electric power and other services such as road and rail extension will also be very extensive. But further expansion of industry must be provided if the whole population of the country is to be fully, continuously, and permanently employed, and, at the same time, provision made for reasonable expansion of the population through both natural increase and planned immigration adjusted to the country’s conditions.

IMPORTANCE OF AFFORESTATION.

“ One of the greatest fields for providing this expansion- undoubtedly is in the planting of new areas for afforestation, and the use of the existing, areas. It has been estimated that there is an annual growth of 1,000,000,000 ft in the planted areas, both State, and privately owned. Pinus insignus has now become recognised as a useful building timber when properly treated. I am informed that representatives of the timber industry in Australia have recently visited this country, and have stated that they are prepared .to enter into long-term' contracts for kiln-dried pinus insignis in large quantities. This is an industry, that not only promises to be a big factor in providing employment, but is also going to provide further funds in Australia, “ Again, this country is spending tremendous sums on importing newsprint and' other papers. The establishment of a mill in New Zealand .has already demonstrated the suitability of our exotic timbers in the manufacture of pulp for paper-making. New Zealand has also demonstrated that there is a large overseas market for her pulp boards/ Here again is a section of our primary industry; linked with secondary industry—namely, the manufacture of soft boards, hard-? boards, pulp, and paper contributing to the employment of labour and the provision of overseas funds. “In the establishment of these sawmills and pulp and paper mills a standard of housing can he. adopted which presented some difficulties when dealing with our indigenous forests. The renroach that has .always been levelled’ against sawmilling, - often with accuracy, of lack of reasonable housing can definitely Vbe eliminated through providing attractive towns and villages for workers engaged. in the production of exotic timber and timber products.

FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT ASSURED.

“ With a policy of primary and industrial expansion combined witlv the present plan of works covering hydroelectrioity and other services, . New Zealand can face the future .with a definite assurance that, despite .any possible untoward outside influences, full-time employment can be assured for her workers. With efficient maximum output the provision of the necessary finance will not present any great difficulties, as practically the whole of the employment schemes are bound up with the natural resources of the country, and, consequently, are. not liable to the same' extent to be influenced by outside factors. “It has often been stated that in so far as the development of our secondary industries is concerned New'Zealand has proceeded at too fast a pace. Such a view is a mistaken one. New Zealand has, through Her exports, certain funds with which to buy the necessary raw materials or manufactured goods that cannot be produced in this country. What the critics of industrial expansion overlook is the fact that the New Zealand workers in the secondary industries are providing articles that can be made with N»v Zealand labour and from New Zealand'raw materials. We would require to lower considerably our standard of living if we had to depend entirely on imports financed by the receipts from the sale of the goods we export. “ The old policy in the pas-j: of going to the hankers of England and. borrowing five to 10 millions per annum when our exchange pool was exhausted, or the funds from the sale of our produce were exhausted, .has gone, and it is only going to be through the. sane development of. our primary and secondary industries that we as a country are going to maintain and improve our present standards.”