DANGERS REALISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 13

DANGERS REALISED

DISCRETION ESSENTIAL

MR. SULLIVAN'S ADMISSION CHANGES TO BE MADE SLOWLY ""[BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday "I admit that the bill is very wide in its scope, but the work, has to be approached in R careful and discreet manner," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when speaking on the Industrial Efficiency liill in the House of Representatives to-day. "Wo are not going to start off to rationalise every industry in the country overnight," he added. "We will probably take one industry which itself has been making requests for reorganisation and make a start on that, working in the early stages on one or two industries at a time.

"I do not shut mv eyes to the dangers which may exist with regard to the licensing of industry. We shall have to be careful in order not to stifle progress, but there are so many cases in which the licensing provisions are urgently required. However, if we recognise the dangers we will be in a position to avoid them."

ISSUE OF LICENCES PROCEDURE DISCUSSED MINISTER'S RESPONSIBILITY [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Suggestions as to the procedure which may be followed in the licensing of industry under the Industrial Efficiency Bill were made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in opening the second reading debate on the bill in the House of Representatives today.

"Does the Minister think it wise that the Bureau of Industry and the Minister should have the last word when licences are being issued?" asked Mr. W. P. Endean (OppositionPa rnell).

"No Minister would desire personally to take the responsibility," said Mr. Sullivan, "but in his own field the Minister in charge of a department is the highest representative of the State in that field. The Minister may appoint some person or persons to report to him concerning a licence." Mr. Endean: Why not let them go to the Court? There may be £IOO,OOO involved, and you may be wrong. Mr. Sullivan: The Minister may appoint a judge of the Supreme Court, or a magistrate, or a group of experts to do that work.

Mr. Endean: Why not mention the tribunal ?

"I am not going to argue with the honourable gentleman," said Mr. Sullivan, "but I would get as near as possible to the course I have mentioned under the terms of the bill. I think that would be a substantial safeguard."

SUPPORT FOR BILL MANUFACTURERS' VIEWS "ORDER OUT OF CHAOS" [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The president of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, Mr. D. Henry, said to-day that he definitely and wholeheartedly was in support of the Industrial Efficiency Bill. The general principles of the measure were endorsed by the Manufacturers' Council last week, and a number of amendments had been proposed for the purpose of making the machinery of it safer and more effective.

Mr. J. T. Spears, vice-president of the federation, said that he also supported the measure, which was designed to evolve economic order out of economic chaos. He was unable to withhold sympathy from the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. 1). G. Sullivan, in the earnestness with which the problem was being tackled. Mr. F. N. Ambler, president-elect of the Auckland association, said the bill undoubtedly would be objected to by business men who stil! believed in the old ways of the jungle, but he strongly recommended manufacturers to approach the scheme in a spirit of co-operation. The Wellington association, following two days' meetings, finally voted in favour of giving wholehearted support to the bill, subject to one amendment which, though important, did not in any way conflict with the declared policy of the Government.

Mr. Matheson, president of the Wellington association, said to-day that he saw in the bill a wonderful opportunity for progress in the manufacturing industry, and he recommended fellow industrialists to give it support.