PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21924, 8 April 1933, Page 12

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your correspondent “ Interested ” is evidently fishing for some further information, regarding primary and secondary industries. All lie can say and do will not stop secondary industries from forming, even in New Zealand, a substantial means of employment and being a benefit to this country generally. Statistics of factory production were started in New Zealand in 1867, and taking the figures for the New Zealand Official Year Book, 1933, I find there, are 5203 establishments, employing 63,961 males and 16,868 females, paying salaries and wages totalling £14,747,987 for males and £1,649,613 for females, a total of £16,397,000 for the year. Now a very large amount of this money must go to the primary producer for local consumption of meat, wheat, fruit, vegetables, etc., and therefore forms a great part of the local markets’ purchasing power. If you could give all these people work in primary production all would be well with “ Interested’s ” ideas, but can you? I say “No,” and any right thinking man or woman will say the same. The primary is certainly the largest employer, but we cannot do without our escouclary industries, and it is only by increasing our secondary industries and population of our cities, giving more employment, thereby increasing the purchasing power, that progress will again be established. I have drawn out a list of primary products which will go to prove that the local market is the best taken all round. “ Interested ” says he fails to see why producers should buy New Zealand-made goods. A man that says that would be better out of New Zealand. . Out of 20 items of primary productions 14 items have a larger local consumption and only six have a larger export, therefore my contention that the local markets are the best friend the farmer has got, and of the two markets is the most reliable, and at the same time it can be improved by finding work at full wages for all, thereby increasing the purchasing power of the people. The figures are taken from New Zealand Official Year Book, 1933.—1 am, etc., R. Walker. [The list and figures submitted are too long for publication.— Ed. O.D.T.]

TO THE EDITOR. Slß,—Amid all the controversy that one might say is almost raging between the rival interests of our primary and secondary industries, I am wondering what attitude the Manufacturers’ Association or its individual members will take in regard to our coming Winter Show. Some of our manufacturers have in the past always considered that the show afforded an excellent' opportunity to ’ bring their goods before the many country visitors coming to town on that occasion, but/in view of the proposed exhibition to be held under their auspices and of the Trades and Labour Council in May ne;xt, I am wondering if they will consider it worth while supporting the show as heretofore. It will certainly be matter of interest to country visitors who may not be able to visit the exhibition to observe how far this is done, and I doubt not that careful note will be taken of those who evince their interest by continuing to exhibit at. the show and those that fail to do so. —I am, etc., Observer.