BRITISH INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 9

BRITISH INDUSTRIES.

BENEFITS OF SAFEGUARDING

STRIKING FIGURES QUOTED. (Received February 4, 11.15 p.m.) United Service. LONDON, l'eb. 3. The Daily Mail refers to tlio joint application made by employers and employees lot a safeguarding duty on dress goods. It says the unions were hostile to any measure for safeguarding a year ago. Tho fact that the workers no longer arc ready to stand still and look on murmuring out-of-date free-trade shibboleths while vital industries decay is a most hopeful sign for tho future, says the paper Britain's imports of woollen fab vies have increased 500 per cent, since 1921. Seven thousand British looms are out of action and 25,000 textile workers have abandoned the industry. If all the imported fabrics were manufactured in Britain thousands of artisans would bo employed, tho consumption of coal would bo largely increased and the prosperity of the textile industry would help to relieve others which are carrying an almost intolerable burden of taxation. Industries already safeguarded have greatly benefited.

The motor-car industry has reduced prices and increased its exports nearly 50 per cent. The tyre industry is building not only new factories but new villages under the stimulus of duties.

Tho Federation of British Industries, in reviewing the last quarter of 1928, notes the appreciably bigger output of the basic industries. Steel increased by 199.000 tons, new was the highest, since 1921, and tlio export of manufactures was 3 per cent, over that of 1524, one of the best post-war years.