EFFICIENCY ACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 12

EFFICIENCY ACT

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY BUREAU'S ACTIVITY REGULATING SALE OF PETROL [by telegraph —own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Sunday The activities of the Bureau of Industry, established under the Industrial Efficiency Act passed at the last session of Parliament, were discussed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in response to an inquiry on Saturday concerning the work of the bureau.

"Considerable progress," said the Minister, "has been made in regard to the regulation of the retail sale of motor spirit, and, the necessary procedure having been determined, the bureau has now given a large number of decisions in regard to applications for licences for new sites and extensions of existing units. It is anticipated that by this week some 80 applicants will have been advised of the decision of the bureau. It is evident, even at this early stage, from the largo number of applications which have been received by the bureau for licences to commence and operate new petrol reselling stations, in respect of which inquiries have shown that many are not required in the service of the motoring public, that the regulation of this industry is long overdue, and will be to the benefit of not only those engaged in the industry, but also the consuming public. Flax and Chemists "The bureau is actively considering efficiency plans in connection with a number of major industries, of which | the flax industry is probably the most important," the Minister proceeded. "When a tentative plan was first placed before the industry it was evident that, although the industry desired a I plan of rehabilitation, it was necessary Ito reconcile individual interests, lhe i bureau, therefore, arranged for the set- | ting up of a national representative committee, which has held discussions with a special committee of the bureau. "The pharmacy industry is another in which considerable progress toward finalisation of an industrial plan has been made. When such finality is reached a general meeting of the wholeindustry will be called." The Minister said a commission was investigating the fishing industry. Pending receipt of the report of the Fisheries Investigation Committee, the Cabinet has decided, in order to conserve national fishery resources and to meet difficulties experienced by those engaged in the industry, to bring the industry within the licensing provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act. When the report of the Fisheries Commission was available the whole position of the industry would be reviewed. Fertiliser Manufacture "The manufacture of phosphatic fertilisers is another industry which is subject to licensing under the terms of the Act," said the Minister. "A number of applications to commence this industry has been received by the bureau, which has appointed a special committee to hear evidence from all the parties affected. "In addition to the rationalisation of existing industries, the bureau has also given consideration to the establishment of a number of new industries, but the inquiries have not yet reached the state when a public announcement can be made."