SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20960, 25 February 1930, Page 13

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS. ASSURANCE OF SUPPORT. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, February 24. The determination of the Government to do everything possible to. foster the secondary industries of the Dominion was expressed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. B. Donald) when speaking at a conference of lauufacturturers in Wellington to-day. At the same time the Minister stated definitely that he was opposed to anything in the shape of high protection. “ I wish* to assure you,” Mr Donald said, “ that the Government is deeply interested in the secondary industries; of the Dominion, and is out to do all it possibly can to foster them. . It is realised that in fostering the secondary industries we will be helping to solve one of the greates* problems confronting the country—unemployment. Of course, we do not say that it will be possible completely to solve the problem. I am pleased to know that your association does not consider that high protection is a means by which the industries of the Dominion are to be set on their feet be cause no country Jn the world, perhaps barring the United States, is looking for a higher cost of living.. It would he a bad thing for New Zealand if the cost of living were forced up, so I have been pleased to be assured by the members of your association that it is not high protection they are seeking. Ido not suggest, nor probably do you, that there are not some industries that might be helped by a certain amount of protection. “ Speaking for myself,’’ proceeded the Minister, “ it does not appear to me that in New Zealand, and in other countries as well, far too much money is being spent on luxuries. I have my own views as to what might be done to stop that, but I am not going to make them public at the moment. However, the question needs to be given very close attention:. The people to-day are. not spending their money on the necessities of life as they were some time back. They are not buying necessary clothing, aud so on. If they were, they would bo helping to make our industries more prosperous. Too much money is being spent on motor cars and other luxuries. New Zealand certainly cannot afford to be paying out £8,000,000 a year for motor cars and the things that go with thorn.” Mr Donald said there were many things 'at present brought into the country from overseas which could be manufactured, in New Zealand if they went the r ight way about it. It was the duty, of lie committee which had been set up to try and fine out just what could be done to bring about the manufacture in New Zealand of those goods which could be produced at the right price. At the same time he did not think it should be thought that New Zealand should not trade with countries overseas. He hoped members of the association would realise that.