PROTECTING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 4

PROTECTING INDUSTRY

DEFINITE STEPS TO BE TAKEN ASSURANCE BY MINISTER EACH GROUP TO STATE POSITION (Per United Press Association) . WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. The announcement that the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation has been-authorised to commence discussions with the representative!! of the Departments of Customs and Industries and Commerce in regard to every industry requiring protection was made by the president, Mr David Henry, of Auckland, at the annual conference of the federation to-day. He said that at the annual meeting ©f the Canterbury Association the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan) stated that it had been decided that the steps taken in the matter of footwear would also be taken in reViewing other industries affected. This welcome news, Mr Henry gaid, was confirmed yesterday when he had a talk with Mr Nash and Mr Sullivan. The federation was now authorised. to commence discussions with the representatives of the departments mentioned. Each industry, as in the case of footwear, would Set out its present position and justify by statements of costs the application which it would make for protection against imports now entering the country. "Accordingly," he continued, *we bring to our annual conference something definite and tangible. I therefore stress very strongly the need to complete our organising of trade groups so that every industry will be able to state its position in a proper manner during the forthcoming discussions with the Departmental Committee." Little Progress Made Mr Henry said that, looking back over the year's work, he thought his chief feeling was one of disappointment at the meagre results achieved. " When the Government took office," he said, " we felt that it was determined to push forward the manufacturing industries, not just to make it possible to keep existing factories busy, but also to help us to develop the manufacturing industries generally. Unfortunately, some manufacturers have not been able even to keep all their staffs constantly employed through the year, and this position in time became so alarming that the solution of that problem finally took precedence over all others." The simple facts were, Mr Henry said, that little, if any, new development had taken place in industry, and even more serious was the outstanding fact that there "were hundreds of people unemployed who should be working, but for the excessive importation of goods which could easily have been made by New Zealand workmen. Fortunately, he added, there was also a bright side to the picture. There were still many busy plants in New Zealand, and while the present buoyant prices for exports continued there would be a substantial demand for New Zealand-made goods which could not be so readily imported from overseas countries.