CRITIC OF INDUSTRIES IN N.Z. IS DEFENDED

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1949, Page 4

CRITIC OF INDUSTRIES IN N.Z. IS DEFENDED

P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 23. New Zealanders were far too apt to resent even sound criticisms of the conditions in the Dominion, stated the vice-president of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, Mr R. D. Brown, of Hastings, at the annual meeting of the society at New Plymouth to-day. “We should welcome criticism from eminent world figures, and try to learn lessons from them,” he said. The recent criticism of the statement made by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir George Aylwen that New Zealand had third and fourth rate industries, was quoted as an example by Mr Brown. Sir George Aylwen, he said, was an expect on the subject. He had probably made his statement with the ’dea of helping New Zealand. “I met Sir George during his first visit to New Zealand ,and can vouch that he had studied this subject, on which he was well qualified to comment, and did not make his statement on any' superficial knowledge,” added Mr Brown. New Zealand was not the only country criticised by Sir George as nossessing third and fourth classes of industries. He had. made a similar statement regarding many of the industries in Great Britain.