Minister Reviews Progress Of N.Z. Manufacturing

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 3

Minister Reviews Progress Of N.Z. Manufacturing

[Special to "Northern Advocate”] WAIRAKEI, This Day. The annual conierence of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation opened last night. Over 100 delegates are attending the meeting. The conference was opened by the I Minister for Industries and Commerce (Mr. Sullivan), and after the presentation of the annual report the retiring president (Mr. C. V. Smith) delivered his address. Plans for post-war industrial development in New Zealand were discussed by the Minister in his address. He said industrial development loomed large in the Government’s rehabilitation programme. “We are already preparing for the glad day of peace by taking what steps are possible for the change-over from a war economy to a peace economy,” Mr. Sullivan said. “Plans are being framed, and activities for rehabilitation considered. Production has been increased greatly, particularly in essentials for war.” Replacement, New Industries Mr. Sullivan said that among activities being considered and planned were those to replenish depleted stocks of civilian consumer goods and meet the intensified demand that would arise, to ensure adequacy of supplies of essential raw materials, to develop natural resources still further, to extend activity in linen flax, sugar beet, and flax textiles from phormium tenax, to establish an iron and steel industry and to build ships for coastal trade and trawlers instead of minesweepers as at present. Other plans were for the development of new uses for New Zealand products, the increased cultivation of tobacco, the extended manufacture ci paper, the production of cellulose products from the Dominion’s forests and the adaptation of engineering advances from munitions to other avenues of production. Substantial Increase The Minister paid a tribute to New Zealand manufacturers for what they had achieved, and said that of the four groups in which the Dominion’s industries were divided, the greatest progress had been made in the true manufacturing industries. A total of 53,468 were engaged in 1934-35 and production was valued at £31,881,279. By 1939-40 there were 76.665 employees and production was worth £54,726,701. The withdrawal of almost 100,000 men had lessened civilian consumer demand in New Zealand and replaced it with a call for production of munitions equipment, foodstuffs, clothing and footwear. A good job was being done in that direction. Industry had made a magnificent effort in the face of difficulty and trial. Many Wartime Adjustments Mr. Sullivan said he thought that before the war ended New Zealand would be called upon to make many more adjustments. Still more of the country’s productive capacity might be involved in production directly associated with the war. The question of the best use of manpower within a war economy had to be faced. Commitments had been

undertaken in the fields cf heavy production and this would become more intense. After the war there might be a vast development of Empire production and New Zealand would possibly have a further duty of providing food for hungry people. There was sure to be a demand for primary products, particularly meat, butter and cheese.