new industries

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 10

new industries

STIMULATION PLANS,

WORK IN PROGRESS

CO-OPEKATION NEEDED

APPEAL BY MINISTER

A statement that following the import restrictions the work of stimulating local industries to fill the gap, was proceeding satisfactorily was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan who arrived in Auckland from the South vesterday. He said every effort was being made to ensure that the necessary raw materials were made available. Mr. Sullivan said the manufacturing committee had already met the representatives of some 80 firms and industries to ascertain their resources' and capacity to meet a larger market. Questions of finance, supply of labour, marketing and maintenance of standards without price increases had all been discussed. Special attention at the moment was being given to the question of training labour for skilled occupations. Maintaining Quality

The New Zealand Standards Institute was also busy on the task of either preparing New Zealand standards or adjusting overseas standards to ensure that quality was maintained. The subject of the output per unit of labour was receiving attention. National organisations of labour had expressed their willingness to co-operate with the Government, with a view to securing the best output possible. This was one of the most important aspects of the whole problem of readjusting New Zealand industry to meet the new responsibilities that had been imposed upon it. If' the co-operation of the workers in stimulating output to meet the needs of the country was withheld, the effort now being made to produce the goods required would not succeed.

The Minister added that he was pleased to say this was being recognised by the leaders of labour, and as he had indicated, a very good spirit among the leaders prevailed at the moment. But he asked for the full not only of the leaders, but of every individual worker in the country to do their very best in the production of goods and services and thus enable the Government and the people to build a stronger economy in Zealand. Mr. Sullivan said that without in any way reflecting upon them, he would like to* say to the manufacturers of Auckland that the reports received from the other centres had, up to the present, been more hopeful and inspiring than were those from their city. But he felt sure that when they got under way the lag would be made up, and that the North would play an important part in this great New Zealand campaign.