PAUA SHELL INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1946, Page 6

PAUA SHELL INDUSTRY

RESERVED FOR DISABLED SERVICEMEN P.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. The purpose of licensing under the Industrial Efficiency Act, the industry of the manufacture of paua shell into jewellery and .ornaments 1 , was to ensure that the industry was reserved for disabled servicemen, said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), to-day.

The Government’s decision was gazetted last week. The Minister said the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-Estab-lis'hment League was training disabled men in this' industry, and already a very high standard of work had been attained, and good connections were being built up. Men were turning out first-class work, and he understood it was the intention of the Rehabilitation Board to establish a number of these disabled servicemen in their- own businesses. The Minister indicated that the licensing of the industry should' give the League every chance to build up and retain a good reputation in this class of work, and to* afford every opportunity to disabled servicemen to take their place in the econmic life of the Dominion. The industry as licensed does not apply to the use of paua shell as inlay in the carved woodwork of Maori design, so that the Maoris will be free to carry on their ancient handcrafts as formerly, without restriction. The export of paua shell is now prohibited.