LOCAL INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 15

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR INCREASING PRODUCTION TINS FOR TOBACCO AND FRUIT MAKING OF BATHS AND SINKS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT | WELLINGTON. Friday Because of tire import restrictions cigarette and tobacco tins not previously manufactured in New Zealand were now being made here, and the reduction in imports of canned fruits had led to the doubling of the supply of tins for New Zealand-grown fruit in the Hawke's Bay area, Mr. S. W. Gadsden, of Petone, told the Prune Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when they continued their visits to factories in the Wellington district this morning. The party first visited the factory of manufacturers of baths and sinks at Petone and inspected the various processes. Mr. Savage said he was satisfied the New Zealand product was an excellent one, adding that Mr. H. JD. Vickery, chairman of directors of the company, iiad informed him that there did not appear to be any difficulties ahead. The work being done in the factory gave a vision of what could be expected in the future. He was sure manufacturing was not going to stagnate, but would go right ahead. The company was manufacturing 40 per cent of the baths and sinks required for State houses and before they. were through they might be making 100 per cent, because the country still needed a lot of houses. Greatly Increased Output When the Ministers and their party arrived at the next factory attention was called to the number of containers that had been ordered because supplies were 110 longer being imported. In addition to the new Tines being made, the output of fruit tins had risen from 400,000 to 750,000, and that meant an additional fortnight's work for the factory. Eight new hands were being taken 011 next week and when they were trained the output of the factory would be increased. It was stated that contracts had been secured that would put the output of the factory up by 50 per cent. Because of the increased work the factory was to be enlarged in the near future and more employees would be required. Mr. Savage said he thought it would be a good thing if other sections of the community could see what was being done in the factories. The people of New Zealand needed educating up to the realisation that goods equal to the best could be made in the Dominion. Government's Objective The Government had set out to build, up industry in New Zealand, because it believed the people of New Zealand were capable of the work required, continued the Prime Minister. Where there was a spirit of co-opera-tion a factory had a tremendous advantage. The Government wanted an increase in production and it also wanted to see everyone helping and receiving a share of that increased production. If there was proper inducement to both employers and employees, the work required could be done in New Zeialand. Mr. Sullivan said there was an idea abroad that New Zealanders could not make articles as good as those imported* but the visit to the factories proved that was wrong. In some industries New Zealand was producing the best quality in the world. The reason for that was that the young people of New Zealand were adaptable and enterprising. New Zealand could become a great manufacturing nation. All that was required was the co-operation they had seen in the factory applied right throughout the Dominion. TRANSFER OF LABOUR ABSORPTION IN INDUSTRY NOT A RAPID PROCESS COMMENT BY MINISTER "Indications on the evidence submitted by the manufacturers are that the process of absorbing the labour into secondary industries will not be rapid." said the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, when referring yesterday to a report that the Government hoped that, industries would be able to absorb 8000 men from public works within six weeks. Many adjustments both to plant and conditions would have to be made to permit of the ready absorbing of men into industry. It' had been estimated, however, that considerably more tlaan 8000 workers would be required in the secondary industries to produce anything like the amount of goods previously imported, and as manufacturers. made their arrangements the Government would do its part in the necessary supply of labour.