NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16870, 7 June 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES

PRESENT AND FUTURE. ADDRESS BY HoN. E. \V. RUSSELL. New Zealand's Indu.-trial Position Today and Its Future" v. a.- the title of rin address deli voted by the. Hon. G. \V. Russell. Minister for Internal Affairs and Public Health, iu tho Town Hail concert chamber last evening, under the auspices of the Auckland Industrial Association. The president of the association, Mr. S. J. Harbutt. in introducing the speaker, outlined the objects of the asset iation. and stated that the time was opportune to organise for the great economic struggle which must udlow the present war. Mr. Russell stated that lie w >.« not speaking as a member of the National Wovei niner.t, but as a New Zealand**!, apart altogether from his relations to tlio Government. Referring to the increased national expenditure, he said tho country would have to look ahead and consider how this burden was to be carried. '1 lie solution of the difficulty was to increase the carrying capacity of the Dominion. In 1916. the Do minion exported 505.000 bales of wool valued at £11,500,000. The frozen meat exported was -valued at over £/.000,000. and dining the same time butter valued at £2,602.000 and cheese valued at £3.514,000 were exported. The increases iii the export of butter and cheese indicated the great prosperity of the Dominion in the future from these sources. Tile dairying industry, developed on proper lines, meant many small holdings. and the latter meant manufactures. 'Hie prosperity of the towns depended on the prosperity of the count districts, and any steps taken to develop ihe primal*- industries would benefit the whole ' Dominion. He was strongiv of opinion that large holdings of suitable land should be cut up into dairy farms of 100 acres. If the proprietory were not willing to do so, they should be dispossessed and paid compensation. There would be no difficultv :n finding settlers. Over 80,000 soldier--were still away, and when they returned opportunities should be. given" ail those who to desired, and were tit, to r*o on the land.

Mr. lit is.-, i-11 t-.i :<I that. although y f . xr Zealand was primarily a pastoral country, it had a.ready attained an honorable position in regard to secondary induct lies. He quoted figures showing 'the ii,crease during le.'ent year? ;n the manufacturing industries in New Zealand, The tact that we had been abie to clothe arid supnlv our troops with all the loatherware tlie'v required showed what success had attended manufacture in New Zealand. The census of 1916 showed that 44.000 males and 14.000 females were employed i" manufactories, the total yearly' wage's being £6.654.000. The value of the ■products was over £45.000.000. The imports the country was paying for indicated there wa.s still room for a large industrial development in the Dominion In 1914 apparel valued at £4.559,000 was imported, and much of this might have been manufactured in the Dominion Dealing with _ the necessity for iron ore in i," dust rial development. Mr. Russell referred to deposits awaiting exploitation at Parapara, estimated at from 53 to 64 million tons. The coalfields of Westport were close at hand, arid could be used in their development. The initial difficulties in regard to using the iron sands of Taran.iki had been overcome, and there was a vast Held of enterprise opening up in this direction in the future. At present New Zealand was importing iron and steel goods, valued at. £4.112.000. He thought the time had come when the Government should set to work to develop this most important industry. The Mini.-, ter then referred to the drilling for oil at . ew Plymouth and the exploitation of the oil shale dcpoe-it.s at Orermki. Petroleum oil was a great necessity, hut. up to the present the Government had only invested £20.000 in the development of the niduMr v.

Reiei rm~ in conclusion to the future policy of the country, the Minister urged the. necessity f..r the expansion of the rail, wav system, the development of the hydro-elect) ic resources of the Dominion' and increasing the facilities in our education system for scientific and industrial reserach. so that, we ra.-.v learn how applied science mi'iht show how to improve our manufactures. prevent waste, and develop the latent resources of the Dominion. A heartv vote of thanks was conveyed to the Minister for his interesting address