CITY'S CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23382, 26 June 1939, Page 13

CITY'S CLAIMS

INDUSTRIAL CENTRE THE NEED FOR ACTION APATHY OF BUSINESS MEN WELLINGTON TAKES LEAD While the need for pressing Auckland's claims as an industrial centre has been realised for some time by commercial organisations, there is as yet little to show that this feeling has been developed much beyond the stage of well-intentioned discussion. In the meantime, energetic bodies in other centres, especially Wellington, are publicising tho potentialities of their districts and reaping the benefit in the form of new factories and warehouses, more employment and increased business.

Sponsored by tho Auckland Manufacturers' Association, a move was made in April toward the formation of a body similar to progress and expansion leagues in other centres, and a committee, representing the Manufacturers' and Employers' Associations and tho Chamber of Commerce, was later set up to formulate a plan of action. Although tho committee has been working for nearly a month no report has yet been made, nor does it appear likely that one will bo available for some little time to come. Lack oi 00-operation From inquiries made, it would seem unfair to blame members of the committee for this delay. Obviously the preparation of a suitable plan must entail considerable deliberation and research, but this work coidd bo speeded up were it not for the general apathy and lack of co-operation, which is stated to exist among many business men who are in a position to give valuable assistance. So vocal were Aucklanders in praise of their city and province 25 years ago that they were often accused of intolerable boasting by residents of other parts of the Dominion. During the war it was said that colonial troops arriving in England were ironically asked whether they came from Auckland or New Zealand becauso of the halo of superiority with which many exuberant Aucklanders apparently wished to adorn their district. Lip Service Only While some of this propaganda was probably tactless and had little justification in fact, no one could accuse Aucklanders of pressing even the fair claims of the city and province at the present time. This was realised by a writer in a recent issue of the Commerce Journal, official organ of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce, when he said: "Aucklanders are not sufficiently vocal about the industrial potentialities of their area." In complaining of the present widespread apathy, a leading business man said on Saturday that many men were prepared to talk loudly on the need for some kind of progressive action, but when it came to enlisting their support in something that required personal effort and attention they were full of excuses. Asked to give a few hours to a particular question, they i pleaded a golf or other engagement. Asked to subscribe money; they spoke of balance-sheets and lower profits. Propaganda Methods Tn several quarters it is agreed that Wellington has taken the lead in militant propaganda. This has resulted in tho establishment at the Hutt and in l'etone recently of certain industries which might have been secured for Auckland had proper representations been made and information supplied to those concerned by some accredited body on behalf of tho province. Typical of Wellington propaganda at the present time is an attractively-pre-pared booklet recently issued by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in which "facts and figures concerning tho city, port and adjacent districts" are given. While some of the conclusions drawn from those "facts and figures" might be seriously debated, particularly by Auckland interests, there is no doubt ! tiiat the information given will make irnpressivo reading for overseas indus- i trialists among whom the booklet will presumably bo widely circulated. Apart i from special articles in recent issues ' of the journal of the Auckland Chamber ( ;if Commerce, comparatively little ap- 1 propriate propaganda has boon issued 1 from Auckland.