VITAL INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 11

VITAL INDUSTRY

FUTURE OF DOMINION

MR. J. A. LEE'S OPTIMISM

CASE FOR SOCIALISATION

[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELL-INGTON, Thursday

"Now Zealand has a great industrial future, but no country has risen to great heights as a manufacturing country without an iron and steel industry*" said Mr. J. A. Lee (Government —Grey Lynn) during the debate on the Iron and Steel Industry Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. The future of industrial New Zealand, he added, was definitely assumed.

"The speeches by.'Opposition members against the Government's proposals for the establishment of an iron and steel industry smack of the international," said Mr. Lee. "Every country on the face of the earth is to be allowed to supply us with iron except New Zealand. The time lias gone by when the average Now Zealander is prepared to run a farm for a placo called Home." " Extraordinary Attitude "

The attitude of the Opposition, added Mr. Lee, was extraordinary. Some members referred to a curtailment of the supplies now obtained from Broken Hill, others spoke of the reduction that would take place in the imports of iron and steel from Great Britain, and others still wanted Onekaka developed by means of a 5 per cent guarantee from the State. "I am in favour of this legislation because I am a New Zealander and because I am a Socialist," said Mr. Lee. "Members of the Opposition want a guaranteed dividend for a group of investors, they want part of the socialist estate appropriated to pay these investors 5 per cent plus bonus and other considerations."

Mr. W. J. *Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo): Pius a bit of usury. Mr. Lee: Plus a bit of stupidity as far as the honourable member is concerned. I have a clipping in which he states lie found himself in politics as a result of a mistake. I knew that before I read it. The State and Oysters

The deposits at Onekaka, said Mr. Lee, belonged to the people and should bo developed in their interests. The member for Christchurch North (Mr. S. G. Holland) came of a Government that socialised the oyster, but he had objected to the State developing the iron and steel industry. "The time and day may come when at any cost it may be necessary that we have supplies of iron and steel," Mr. Leo continued. "Let us hope that such a contingency does not arise. Private enterprise has had its opportunity to develop this industry and has failed. The pioneers in this effort deserve the credit of the nation, but the people floating the present company are trying to obtain profit without the production of a single ton of iron." MARKET GARDEN WORK CONDITIONS OF AWARD CONCERN AMONG GROWERS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday The position of workers engaged in the growing of potatoes, onions and market garden produce was discussed by Mr. A. C A. Sexton (Independent— Franklin), in giving notice of a question to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in the House of Representatives to-dav.

Mr. Sexton asked the Minister if ho would bring down legislation to-ensure that all workers employed in rural industries would come tinder the Agricultural Workers Act. instead of under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, as some of them did at present. "The trouble has arisen in the Pukekohe district," said Mr. Sexton. "Growers of potatoes, onions aud market garden produce are subject to an Arbitration Court award governing their employees. The wages and conditions are proving oppressive, and growers all over New Zealand are greatly disturbed."

PRICES OF PETROL

AUCKLAND DISTRICT RATES QUESTION ABOUT FIXATION [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Thursday Suggestions regarding the fixation of petrol prices in the Auckland district were made by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Independent—Franklin) in notice of a question addressed to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in the House of Representatives to-day.

Mr. Sullivan asked whether it was intended to bring the price-fixing regulations into force in the Auckland district, and whether in the event of prices being so fixed the Minister would refrain from fixing them at a flat rate of 3d a gallon above the wholesale rate in districts near the city. He suggested that reasonable latitude should be allowed resellers in those districts in order that they might meet competition.

The resellers were charged from a farthing a gallon upward for delivery costs, said Mr. Sexton, hut their present practice was to carry that charge themselves. If they were compelled to charge more than the resellers in the city it would mean the loss of at least half their business.