OUTLOOK IN INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23054, 3 December 1936, Page 10

OUTLOOK IN INDUSTRY

GOOD GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM EFFICIENCY BEFORE TARIFFS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. A conference of the Manufacturers’ Federation was opened by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan). Quoting figures to show the recent expansions in trade, Mr Sullivan assured the country in general and the manufacturers in particular that they could confidently look to the future with a feeling of optimism After referring to the friendly relations that existed between the manufacturers and himself, the Minister said he felt very definitely that the conference was opening under happier auspices than had been the case for a number of years past, and lie thought there were sound reasons for cheerfulness and th-T maintenance of an optimistic and courageous attitude with regard to the future. He quoted three factors contributing, he thought, to the optimism apparent in the Dominion —the improvement in the prices of primary products, the increased purchasing power of the people, and the opportunity offered to the manufacturers of the Dominion for the development of team-work in their factories and the attainment of still greater and better results than had been achieved in the past. Mr Sullivan said he was definitely of the opinion that the policy embarked upon of improved wages and social conditions must widen the market and improve the opportunities of business for manufacturers. There were, however, one or two cases where industry might be in danger, and he had told the department to hang on to those industries and watch them day and night in order to see what was happening, so thal the Government could take up the case.

“ I am not scolding the manufacturers,” Mr Sullivan said. “I want to say that if they think that is happening I want to know about it. I am entitled to have that evidence Mere generalties are not worth a snap of the fingers fcr meeting the position in a businesslike manner. I want to see the manufacturers playing an increasingly larger part ir. the economic life of the country. I want to make our industry as efficient as possible, and it is onlv after that that we are really justified in imposing tariffs or other forms of protection. “ I want the Industrial Efficiency Act used for the benefit of industry,” Mr Sullivan concluded, “ and for the benefit of the country, and we cannot make that Act a success, a permanent thing, if we are selfish in our administration of it and show a disregard for the public interest.”