MINISTER REPLIES TO LORD MAYOR

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1949, Page 2

MINISTER REPLIES TO LORD MAYOR

WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. “The remarks of Sir George Aylwen, Lord Mayor of. London, concerning New Zealand industries, indicate a complete 'failure to apreciate the rapid growth of general efficiency of manufacturing in this country,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr A. H. Nordraeyer. last night. “To describe our industries as ‘third and fourth rate’ is to reveal an abysmal ignorance of the real achievements of manufacturers both in peace and in war,” said the Minister. . “New Zealand’s economy is based on her primary and her manufacturing industries. 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 the manufacture in New Zealand of these goods which she cannot afford to buy from abroad. n . “While it is possible-that during the war period certain industries were established that might have been unable to pay in normal circumstances, these are a very small proportion of our total units. To describe industry in this country, as ‘third or fourth rate’ is as unfair as it would be if applied to industry in the United Kingdom,” concluded the Minister.