CITY’S PROGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 4

CITY’S PROGRESS

CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIES NO LACK OF FACILITIES Confidence in the future of Dunedin, especially in respect to the expansion of its manufacturing industries, was expressed by the president (Mr J. C. H. Somerville) in his address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Associatipn last night. Mr Somerville vigorously denied a suggestion that Dunedin had ceased to progress, and pointed out the facilities which were available for industrial development. Dunedin’s Resources “Dunedin was a large and flourishing city long before some of the northern cities, and it still is,” Mr Somerville said. “We are not in any way jealous of them, but we must get rid of any complacency, or inferiority complex that some of us may feel in regard to them and let the world know that we do and can make things in Dunedin. I often, wonder, if our citizens realise the magnitude of some of'our larger firms in Dunedin. We have some of the Dominion’s largest industries. and. while we may have missed on some of the new ventures that have been established since the advent of import control, that does -not mean to say we are done. I feel certain that we are waking up, and, when this frightful world cataclysm of Hitler’s making is over, Dunedin will again show the way as she has done in the past.” To achieve the development of manufacturing in Dunedin, the president continued, the association could itself do a great deal, and with the appointment of a full-time secretary this would be one of its.aims. “We have a fine type of people in this city,” he added, “we have the right climate Tor manufacturing, and, what is very important, we have plenty of land adjacent to the rail and the waterfront. We have a great supply of electric power, the cheapest in the Dominion, and can get more if it is wanted. We have a steady, reasonable, and intelligent people, and, so far, have no dearth of female labour. One of our greatest present difficulties—and this does not affect Dunedin only—is the question of shipping, which, due to war conditions, is making the transportation of goods most difficult. Appeal for Confidence “ I am sure we were all very pleasedindeed to hear the Mayor contradict a statement made in Wellington that Dunedin was the worst city in New Zealand for slums,” Mr Somerville continued. “This is not'truc. I feel that all we need is the will to go forward, and, instead of investing our money in securities outside the city, we should use it for the extension of present industries in Dunedin and the building up of our new industries here. This will react not only to the credit of ourselves, but to our native city, of which we are all so: justly, proud.”