INDUSTRIAL PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL PLAN

BEGULATION BY UNITS "SERVING LARGER PURPOSE" CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATION MINISTER OUTLINES SCHEME [BT TELEGRAPH PHESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Thursday Proper planning and organisation of secondary industries, so that they may operate to the maximum advantage, is the aim of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, at a complimentary luncheon tendered him to-day by the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, outlined the tentative scheme he had in mind. Mr. Sullivan said he wanted the industries of the Dominion to be put into a strong position, so that they might serve not only themselves, but the nation as a whole, and the -workers engaged in the industries. "I am perfectly sure we will find it possible to co-operate with advantage to industry, to the workers engaged, and to the country as a whole, he said. "It appears absolutely necessary that we should create a form of organisation equipped with sufficient power to bring our manufacturers together to enable industries to Eerve a very much larger purpose than they do at the present tirn^. Survey of Industries "1 want to create in New Zealand an organisation representative of the manufacturers, of the workers, and of the public, as represented by the Minister, or someone appointed by him, whose duty it will be to make a survey of the various districts of industry. Where an industry falls short of its best possibilities, an effort will be made to see that where possible it shall employ a large number of people, yield a better product, supply it at a "better price, pay better wagesi, and give a better return to the manufacturer. If, as the result of the survey, it is found that an industry is not giving anvthing like the maximum amount of service to the country, our duty will be to carry the inquiry further to see what is necessary to be done to enable it give that larger and wider service to which I have referred. Voluntary Support Sought

Mr. Sullivan said be was anxious that voluntary support should be forthcoming as far as possible, that nothing in the yay of the big stick should be used. If, after thorough investigations into the various phases of the question, there still remained a minor section, who for their 9T n purposes decided to remain outside, then it might be necessary to take further steps. They could not allow a small section to stand in the way and prevent the plan from being given effect to.

"1 consider that while recognising that for some time to come the welfare and prosperity of New Zealand must be to a large extent dependent upon our export markets," continued the Minister, "the expansion of secondary industries and the building up of a greater internal industrial system will do much toward mitigating the harmful effects of fluctuations in the prices received overseas for our primary products. Absorption ol Unemployed

"It is the earnest aim of the Government to secure the re-employment in industry of the 50,000-odd unemploved workers in this country, and the" expansion of our internal industrial svstem is one of the main methods hy which this re-employment can be achieved. The main aim of your members, through your organisation, and one of the aims of myself, as Minister and of the Government I represent, is to secure this desired expansion in the industries engaged in what is termed secondary manufacture in New Zealand. By such .expansion we can employ more workers, pay better wages and salaries, and put industry on a bigger and better scale for your benefit, the benefit of your employees and the benefit of the whole country. "The securing of this is necessarily dependent upon the efficiency of business management, production and marketing. While the Government is anxious to assist in all ways possible, it is obvious that a great deal of progress in this can only be achieved by the individual manufacturer or by his co-ordinated efforts through his associations. Regulation First Step

"There are two choices open in the conduct of industry: open competition or regulation. Which are we to carry on under? It is the duty of thfe Government to guide industry for the benefit of the people as a whole, and this under the existing conditions must mean regulation. Regulation of industry by the Government is therefore the first step in the desired planning of industry, and the Government has already taken the initial steps in regard to the wheat, flour and bread industries and the sale of petrol in Wellington. _ . "The second step in the desired planning of industry is regulati<Jn by industrial units themselves and the consequent- achievement of more co-ordi-nated production, distVibution and progress. The Government can only deal with national problems, and little progress can be achieved without the help and united effort of the manufacturers and their workers."