EFFICIENCY ACT

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1937, Page 4

EFFICIENCY ACT

OPERATIONS OF BUREAU. AUCKLAND, February 14: It is expected that in about six weeks -an organised movement will begin among industries for the formation of group committees under the Industrial Efficiency Act. This movement has been delayed in order to permit of the Bureau of Industry created under the Act to formulate policies and to settle a number ot questions as a preliminary to the setting up of committees. . The bureau has now held several meetings, it is gathered, at which much work has been accomplished, and it is expected that the council ot the New" Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation. will meet in Wellington about March 4, at which details affecting industries under the legislation will be discussed. Possibly after that meeting,' district associations will issue information and advice to industries interested in setting up the machinery the Act for their more efficient operation, Regulations have already been issued bringing a number of industries u'nder the licensing provisions of the Act, and the bureau has dealt with much business connected therewith. Industries so far brought by regulation within the licensing provisions of the Act are manufacturers of products consisting of a combination of asbestos and cement, manufacturers of rubber tires and tubes, manufacturers and those engaged in the assembly of electric ranges, importers- and other wholesale distributors of motor spirit, manufacturers or those engaged in the assembly of motor pulmps, retail sellers and. distributors of motor spirit, chemists or druggists who keep open any place for the compounding or dispensing of prescriptions, and manufacturers of rennet, cement and phosphatic fertilisers. New units in such industries may not start without a licence, and existing units from December 1, 1938, or on such earlier or later date as specified, will not be permitted to carry on except by licence. Much work has already been entailed by the bureau in the issuing of licences in respect of newi units starting in such industries, for before a licence is granted full investigation of the circuimstances is made. Incidentally, licences may be revoked at any time if production is . uneconomic or goods being produced are not of a suitable quality. . APPLICATIONS FOR LOANS. It is also learned that the bureau has had a large number of applications by businesses for financial assistance, but apparently its policy is not to recommend loans to the State Advances Corporation to assist units in an industry in competition with other units, but -rather to - assist the formation of new industries, or to assist the development of an existing industry. While some industries such as the brick and tile manufacturing industry, have shown keen interest in the Act, diero appears to be a good deal of .laziness in the minds of many repregmtatives of industries on many of Jto purposes of the legislation. They have not regarded as vital the formation of industrial plans’ relating to their industries, which, under the legislation, if'‘the Minister thinks it de firable, could be prepared by the bureau. However, there is likely very soon to be much activity in making more generally known among industries' matters contained in the le-gis-'ation that may materially concern them. Some misconception apparently exists among representatives of some industries regarding the steps recently taken by the Government in controlling the prices and distribution of oranges and bananas. This action was not taken under the Industrial Efficiency Act, but under the powers conferred by the Board of Trade Act, 1919.