N.Z. INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 12

N.Z. INDUSTRY

OPPONENTS OF EFFICIENCY. IMPORTERS’ CAMOUFLAGE (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, October 14. A protest against certain reported remarks of the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) during the second reading debate in (he House of Representatives on the Industrial Efficiency Bill, has been made by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. A. Ross) in a telegram sent to Mr Sullivan.

The telegram was as follows: “The Auckland newspapers report yon as saying that the only real opposition outside the House has come from the Auckland and Dunedin Chambers of Commerce, which are mainly concerned with the effect of the legislation on imports competing with local manufacturers. Other chambers have passed resolutions protesting against the Bill, and a combined meeting of the Dominion Chambers of Commerce unanimously condemned the Bill on October 1.

“The Auckland meeting did not discuss the question of imports competing with local manufacturers. It was concerned only with the broad issues involving the bureaucratic control ol all industrial and commercial activity, the subjugation of private enterprise without provision for compensation, and the Minister’s unlimited powers of control over industry and commerce without right, of appeal. It is significant, however, that the- Auckland resolution was moved by a prominent local manufacturer and member of the Manufacturers’ Association. Ninety per cent, of the protests against the Bill received by the Auckland Chamber have come from local manufacturers. ’ ’

BRITISH INDUSTRIALISTS. DUNEDIN, October 14. The overseas delegates, who have been attending the Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire in Wellington, arrived in Dunedin tins evening, and were accorded :i welcome at a gathering in the Tudor Hall. The Mayor (the Rev. E. T, Cox) presided. Viscount Elibank, in replying to the auuress of welcome said he would like an opportunity of explaining his attitude to Empire free trade. He had never agreed with Lord Beaverbrook that it was a practical idea but he had always hoped that if they worked hard enough at it they would secure Empire preference. They had not preference and that was why he stood before them still as an unrepentant Empire free trader. Mr Granville Gibson M.P. for Leeds, made an urgent plea for the resumption of immigration, and urged that New Zealand should not wait for more prosperous times, as in good times Britain could not find the proper type of emigrant to be sent to the Dominion.