MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM OF N.Z. INDUSTRIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22869, 12 February 1949, Page 6

MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM OF N.Z. INDUSTRIES

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. Criticism by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir George Aylwyn, at the New Zealand Society’s annual dinner in London of “third and fourth rate industries” in New Zealand entering markets which in normal times they could not hold was replied to last night by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. A. 11. Nordmeyer.

Sir George, who visited New Zealand last year, said he felt that such undertakings were jeopardising great indusdustries by these methods, which might have serious repercussions later. ‘Tt is no use today talking pure sentiment or saying, because we receive a lot of food parcels, for which everyone is profoundly grateful, that the problem of co-operation is solved, he said. , , “It is not solved, and until we get down to it —each one of us —and each one is prepared to make certain sacrifices for the sake of co-operation and of aiming for reward in a few years time, then I feel we are not doing as we should. , “I am sorry to drop this note, but I do feel that a number of people feel (even in Dunedin, where they are pretty tough) that closer co-operation is needed. “This world is not going to be settled and put right in the next year. It is going to take almost a generation, because we have not got back to anything like normality, and until that time we ought to be satisfied with a standard of living which is going to apolv to all countries. “We are far 100 close together for any one country to have an outstanding standard of living. The world is is need, not of nationalism, but of internationalism.”

Rapid Growth of Industry in N.Z.

In his reply Mr. Nordmeyer said that the remarks of Sir George as published indicated a complete failure to appreciate the rapid growth and general efficiency of manufacture in New Zealand. To describe the country’s industries as “third and fourth rate” revealed an abysmal ignorance of the manufacturers’ real achievements in peace and war. “New Zealand’s economy is based on her primary and her manufacturing industries," the Minister said. "Out of the proceeds of her exports she pays for her debt services and her imports. As she must live within her means she must stimulate manufacture in New Zealand of those goods which she cannot afford to buy from abroad. “While it is possible that during the war period certain industries were established that might have been unable to pay under normal circumstances, these are a very small proportion of our total units.

“To describe industry in this county as third or fourth rate is as unlair as it would be if applied to indus;ry in the United Kingdom.”