The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 12, 1931 NEW INDUSTRIES BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 August 1931, Page 4

The Hawera Star .

WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 12, 1931 NEW INDUSTRIES BOARD.

Delivered every evening by 6 o’oloek in Hawera.. Alanaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho, Oeo, Pihama. Opunake, Normanby. Okaiawa Eltbarn. Ngraere, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna. Te Kiri, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakaramea, Alton. Hurleyville, Patea, Whenuakura, Waverley. Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Eoad. and Ararata.

The Government, is, according to a statement made in the House last night by the Minister of Internal Affairs, on the eve of appointing a Development of Industries Board, which will be a combination of representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Department of Industries and Commerce, with one or two outside members. This announcement.

may mean one of two things: it may be merely a Government “gesture” intended to impress the public that the Government is doing something about the slump, or it may be the forerunner of new industrial and commercial enterprise and the turning point in New Zealand’s history as a trading country. The public is very weary of committees, commissions and boards, and it may be that some readers will scorn the idea that there is anything really significant in this latest Government announcement. If the Government is merely setting up a new body to make reports which will find their final resting place in departmental pigeon-holes, such scorn will prove merited. But if the Government is truly impressed by the need for increased production and greater industrial actiivty, and is deeply conscious of the potentialities of this country, the new board may prove to be all we haye suggested, and more. In the Department of Industries and Commerce the country has a valuable market research organisation, which has issued some interesting reports, particularly on the prospects of development of trade with the Far East. After one has perused such reports, one has had a happy feeling that the future of this country is only just beginning and that there is immense seopc for Hie employment of capital and brains and man-power by this Dominion. But when months and years pass and nothing more is heard of the subjects, one’s enthusiasm becomes chilled. In the Scientific, and Industrial Research Department, the country has another most promising organisation. It was an inspiration to hear the head of that Department, Dr. Marsdcn, outline his activities and hopes before the National Dairy Conference. His lecture was one of the brightest spots of that meeting and did a tremendous amount of good, for it opened the eyes of farmers and other laymen to the dependence of all branches of industry upon science for a future of increasing development, and prosperity. But in this connection the fear again arises that the full value of the work may be lost, or its beneficial effects unduly delayed, because it has to wait upon the pleasure of politicians. A board such as the Minister suggests, however, can, if it is permitted by the Government and provided with some active powers, provide that motive force ! which is at present lacking. If it is not permitted to exercise' leadership and organising ability it might as well not have been brought into being. The latest bulletin of the Canterbury College Department of Economics, a summary of which appears on Page 8 of this issue, states definitely that unemployment can be reduced and prosperity

regained only by an increased measure of production and a reduction of costs;

land it further suggests that New Zea■land has sources of productive wealth 'so far untouched. Everybody can I realise the need of this country for j greater production and, if the Government plays its part with courage instead of timidity, many people will find grounds for fresh hope in the appointment of this new board. It is essential to the realisation of such hopes, however, that the board should have authority to co-ordinate the work of the two departments with the enterprise of the public and the encouragement of the Government.