AUSTRALIA’S HOPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22365, 12 September 1934, Page 17

AUSTRALIA’S HOPE

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES MR F. W. KITCHEN’S VIEWS The great value of secondary Industries to Australia, particularly under the presout conditions of world primary product markets, was stressed to a Post reporter by Mr 1?’, W. Kitchen, the head of Messrs Lever Bros.. Ltd., Australia, and president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers, when interviewed prior to his return to Australia after a brief lour of the North Island. “This is the first time I have had the opportunity of seeing the rural districts of the North Island,” said Mr Kitchen. “ 1 have travelled through from Auckland to Wellington by motor car, and I was wonderfully impressed with the magnificent grass lands, and what appears to an Australian to be a magnificent lambing. , EXAGGERATED THRIFT. “ Apparently conditions in New Zealand are improving, as they are in Australia. We in Australia sank to very low depths of depression, probably brought about, apart from the over-spending by Governments and people, by the quick reaction to exaggerated thrift. One of 'the causes of exaggerated thrift was the fear of what the rates of taxation might ultimately reach, and there was also the fear of unduly extravagant labour legislation. When we arrived at the position that we could sec, daylight regarding the rates of taxation —heavy as they were—it left people able to see what they had left to spend, and when flic Governments, especially ihat of New South Wales, became more solid artd normal, people commenced to spend their money again, and I feel that that had a tremendous effect on the improved conditions, which arc very definitely evident at the present lime. MOST IMPORTANT THING. “ ft seems to me that in these days the most important thing wc have to deal with i.s the question of employment, anil perhaps that is the best barometer of our conditions. In Australia the improvement, or the reduction in the number of unemployed, is very marked as compared with two years ago. This has been brought about very largely by improvement in the manufacturing industries. In Australia the secondary industries have been well protected by Governments, and they are now the great employers of labour. The manufacturing industries employ more than double the number of those employed iu primary industries. We manufacturers take a pride in this, and also in the fact that we produce more actual wealth in the State of Victoria, where I come from, than the primary industries there. In saying this, of course, we do not discount the value of primary industries in any way. As a matter of fact, I continually preach the doctrine of the interdependence of primary and secondary industries. Unfortunately in Australia there is a good deal of pulling one against the other in connections' with these industries, but 1 feel that it is quite uncalled for and harmful.

“We nre in the same position as New Zealand with regard to primary industries, that we are faced with the difficulty of finding markets for wheat, wool, meat, and fruit, etc., aud 1 maintain that if (hat

difficulty is going to continue it is the secondary industries which are going to employ the people and keep the country going. TRANS-TASMAN GOODWILL _“ In oregard to the relations between New Zealand and Australia, I have heard nothing but pleasing comments on Australia and Australians since I have arrived here, and 1 assure the people of New Zealand that Australians look on New Zealanders as practically one and the same people, and if differences do occur at odd times in connection with Government regulations and such matters, they really do not affect the goodwill of the people in any way. “ I would like to refer to Mr Nesbitt, the resident Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. I am one of those inclined to doubt the value of trade commissioners in many countries, but I feci certain that in New Zealand Mr Nesbitt is going to be of great assistance to Australia, and that the work he will do here will not only benefit trade and commerce, but will help. I feel sure, to cement the goodwill of the people in the two countries. CENTENARY KEYNOTE.. “ In Victoria at the present we are having a busy time with the celebrations which arc being held, in connection with our centenary. I am particularly interested in the exhibition of Australianmade goods which is being held chiefly to show to our overseas visitors what is being done in Australia'. The exhibition will be opened by bis Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester on October 20, and I believe it will prove to be the best display ever brought together of goods manufactured in the southern hemisphere. I hope that some of our New Zealand friends will have the opportunity of seeing for themselves what is being done in Australia by the secondary industries.”