PLANNED PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 10

PLANNED PRODUCTION

A "LONG RANGE" SCHEME GOVERNMENT'S AID TO INDUSTRY (Pek United I'ress-Association.> NEW PLYMOUTH, May 21. The "long range" planning of production and industry in New Zealand was dealt with by the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) in an address to the New Plymouth Rotary Club to-day. Mr Forbes detailed some of the activities of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Government in building up the industries of the future. He made only a brief reference to dairying, but made the announcement that an inquiry into the marketing end of the business was proceeding at the same time as the inquiry in New Zealand. He quoted the improvements in flax, oil, gold, wool, pelts and chilled meat as-some of the initial steps in a carefully thought out, campaign. The Government, Mr Forbes said, was exploring new avenues of farming and new branches of existing industries with provision for assistance to infant industries where desirable. Much as all individually disliked the idea of the quantitive regulation of any of our primary industries because of the greater difficulties than in the case of nonperishable manufactures, it would be foolish to blind ourselves to the possibilities arising from the conditions laid down by overseas countries with regard to marketing, over which New Zealand had little or no control. It was necessary to take a comprehensive view of industries and study the possibilities of increased stable employment in all avenues of industry. The organisation of industry and the providing of a policy required much thought and many data. It was a far more "long range" question than was generally realised; and needed much research into the natural resources of the country and the problems of production and marketing. " Only through industrial development will we find a permanent solution of the unemployment problem," continued Mr Forbes. " The Government is taking all the action outlined in the statement issued when the Dairy Commission was announced. It is co-operating with the commission and the Dairy Board in prosecuting in Great Britain.adequate inquiries into consumer and market contacts. A certain arrangement is also in train for exploring other markets with other types of dairy produce suitable for these markets. The experiments in chilled meat have shown that the difficulties of transport have been definitely overcome, and it is probable that this beef, fed on New Zealand's better pastures and in our better climate, will be of superior flavour.

" New Zealand is already doing more relatively than any other country, with regard to man-made forests and the future holds great possibilities for cellulose plastic compounds, manufactured largely from suitable timbers. In addition, a full study of forest products and extensive *oil surveys have been made to determine the factors in various soils which are the foundation of these timbers. Experiments have definitely shown that areas of cultivated flax on the right type of land hold out real hope for the rehabilitation of the industry. 'Gold mining is another industry which is in process of rapid development and which can absorb much labour. The Mines Department is giving every encouragement to legitimate ventures, and the Research Department has now, after patient research, developed geophysical methods which have proved in many cases a very important aid to sound and more economical prospecting by the drill. They have also indicated possibilities of several new fields. We are also taking steps to develop methods to simplify the search for oil and are placing ourselves in a position to. assist developments in the production of oil from coal. "The Government will do.all in its power to assist sound enterprise, in these directions," added Mr Forbes, "because it is only in this way that the future will be made more secure."