CONNOLLY STATEMENT ALL WRONG

Evening Star, Issue 25950, 15 November 1946, Page 9

CONNOLLY STATEMENT ALL WRONG

MINISTER ASKED TO SET HIM RIGHT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 14. A telegram protesting against the statement made by Mr P. G. Connolly, Labour candidate for Dunedin Central, has been sent to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, by the president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, Ml - W. J. Truscott. Mr Connolly was reported as saying: “ 1 -think the time is ripe for the Government to enter the shirthiakilig business, and it could be right here in Dunedin. Private enterprise has fallen down on the job.”

The telegram sent, by Mr- Truscott states: “ Suirt manufacturers throughout New Zealand are greatly incensed by the accusation of your political colleague, Mr Connolly, in Dunedin.-, that they have fallen down on the job and the. suggestion that the Government could do better. This section of industry is proud of its tremendous war job, which was unsurpassed by.any section of industry, in spite of difficulties. There is ample plant a.hd, machinery and raw material’in this country, for the production of shirts, and the present inability of the industry to meet the demand is due entirely to shortages of female operatives ill the first place and to the uneconomic, price tribunal ceilings in the second place. Wo appeal to you to take the earliest opportunity to correct publicly the Unfair impression given. We. can furnish reliable information that the shirt supply position is more serious in Australia, Canada, England, and America than here.”