UNEMPLOYMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 26 March 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT

LIMITING IMPORTS A SOLUTION METHODIST MINISTER. QUOTES STATISTICS That New Zealand is the greatest importing country in the. world was tho assertion'made by the Rev. L. B. Nealo when quoting statistics on imports and unemployment during an address at the Rugby Street Mutho/list Church in Chrislehurch (reports the "Times"). His subject was: "Should tho People of New Zealand Buy New Zealand Goods? What. Would Christ do if lb; Wore Hen; To-day?"

"Our imports are, £50,000.000 a year." said Mr Neale. "Wo are Hie greatest importers in Hie world. Per bead of population imports amount to £3B. New Zealand pays in wages in secondary industries £56,000 every day, and every day sends out of the country for imported goods £125,000. In 1928. £2,750,000 was spent on importing motor-cars, and in 1929 £4.250.000, an increase in one year of £1.500.000. Surely wo could manufacture motor-ear bodies in New Zealand and assemble cars as well. "Take ordinary clothing. Last year we imported £4,'661,327 worth. Surely we can import, the necessary materials and make up our own goods. We imported oils, fats and waxes worth £2,863,592 last year. Most of them wore animal products, which are obtainable in New Zealand by by-products utilisation, ft has been publicly slated that we have by-products in New Zealand which could be manufactured into aviation spirit, of the finest grade available, for 5(1 a gallon, showing a large profit to the manufacturers If we were to put a tax of 4d per gallon on this alone, it would mean a saving of £750,000 lo Now Zealand per annum, and would provide work for hundreds of workers.

"We import yearly £5,500,000 worth of textiles, if people bought New Zealand goods, we could manufacture thousands of pounds worth of textiles and provide employment. Last year we imported £3,469,502 worth of foodstuffs, and yet in our own lands and waters wo have the ingredients and properties for such manufactures. Much of tho stuff is got from New Zealand and sent back again to us for consumption or use.

"Apart from machinery and machines last year we imported nearly £4,750,000 worth of metals. Yet we have foundries of our own and iron sand capable of supplying pigiron. We imported last year £260,000 worth of confectionery, in socks and stockings we imported goods to the value of £9,500,000, and in ready-made clothing £2,000.000 worth, and in boots and shoes over £1,000,000 worth.

"The working man is so bard pressed financially that lie must buy in the cheapest market, and the question is: Will the New Zealand market become cheaper by local manufactures? In our cities in New Zealand we have 1,300,000 people—of course. I am including Kaiapoi and Waipawa as cities —and we have only 200,000 people working on our farms. We have 300,000 scholars in our day schools, and every year 24,000 boys and girls are ready to commence work. We have 82,000 men and women employed in manufacturing industries in New Zealand, and they re-

coivo £17,000,000 in wages arid produce £80,000,000 worth of goods. We have 0000 men out of work in New Zenlniid, and, if wc could save .17 per cent, of our present imports, we could absorb every unemployed person in the Dominion—that is to say, wc could employ another 6000 hands, and pay each £5 per week. It is impossible not to intcrtradc, but wo are over-importing, creating distress, and passing by in many ciises New Zealand articles as'good ;is, if not better than, the imported articles."