SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 7

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

v VALUE RECOGNISED

MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] FOXTON, Tuesday Tlie Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, visited the textile factory to-day, accompanied by Dr. E. Marsden, permanent secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The party was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr. M. E. Perreau, Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., and Mr. D. R. Ogilvy, president of the Flaxmillers' Association.

Mr. Forbes stated he fully recognised that more attention would hav.e to be given to the development of our own resources. Industries such as the textile industry which were providing employment had the sympathy of the Government, and anything he could clo to assist lie would. The collapse of the flax market had thrown largo numbers of men out of work, but new industry would re-absorb them.

Unemployment was a very difficult problem, but he did not know whether private enterprise could do better than the Government had done. Ho believed tho Unemployment Board was doing the best it could with the money available. Ho characterised textile manufacture as a most forward step, as it would bo tho means of utilising our own raw material for our own needs, thereby warranting the assistance of the Government.

Mr. Masters said he did not believe New Zealand should bo one big farm, but secondary industries, such as the textile industry, should bo encouraged. Taking capital, wages and men employed, tho textile industry was doing a tremendous amount of good. He knew of no better method of overcoming unemployment troubles than by assisting secondary industries.