LOCAL INDUSTRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23418, 7 August 1939, Page 11

LOCAL INDUSTRIES

EXPANSION NECESSARY SUPPLIES IN EVENT OF WAR DOMINION MAY BE CUT OFF [BT TKLEGItAPH—PJRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCnURCH. Sunday The possibility of New Zealand in the event of war being deprived of supplies of manufactured goods was emphasised by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when opening the New Zealand Industries Fair last evening. He said he regarded this as an argument of overwhelming importance for the expansion of local industry in the Dominion in addition to tho benefits of a higher standard of living and greater population. "An aspect of overwhelming importance to everyone is the development of industry from the point of view of national defence," said Mr. Sullivan. "If another world war should break out there is the possibility that our country might be cut off from the rest of the Empire and partly or wholly isolated for a period so that it would be impossible for us to get goods that we require. "If war does come, the factories of the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada will be so busy meeting tho requirements of their civil and military populations that there is an immense probability that we would be thrown on our own resources. It therefore becomes a patriotic duty that we should develop our local industries."