LOCAL INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 17

LOCAL INDUSTRY

ADVANCE PREDICTED FINDING EMPLOYMENT FRESH AVENUES NECESSARY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday "I firmly believe —and I say this advisedly—that the manufacturing industry in New Zealand is going to make enormous strides in the next few years," said Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the Employers' Federation, in Conciliation Council to-day when urging the desirability of a comprehensive award in the metal working trades. "If manufacturing does not advance within the next few years it is going to be a case of 'God help New Zealand.' We have got to find employment other than that arising from agriculture for our natural increase of population. If we are going to increase our population by immigration, then it is essential to find employment other than agriculture. We cannot develop our manufacturing industries unless we can put them on a footing at least somewhat competitive with that of other countries. No tariff which can reasonably ''be imposed will enable an in-efficiently-conducted industry to hold up against an efficiently-conducted one. "It is essential that everything that can reasonably be done should be done for manufacturing, whether engineering or any other kind." The applicant party in the dispute was the Wellington Metal Workers' Assistants' Union, and the employers proposed a postponement of the proceedings with a view to securing a comprehensive award. The applicants opposed the adjournment, but it was decided to ask the Court to decide the question of a comprehensive award. If it decides in favour of the union, proceedings will be resumed on the original basis.