COUNTRY’S NEEDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 7

COUNTRY’S NEEDS

MEETING THE SHORTAGES MANUFACTURERS’ ACHIEVEMENT ESSENTIAL GOODS SUPPLIED The extent to which New Zealand manufacturers have met the needs of the Dominion by producing goods which the country would otherwise have been denied owing to war conditions was a subject discussed by the president (Mr J. C. H. Somerville) in his address at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association last night. Mr Somerville pointed out that the value of productive effort was being offset by the growth of Government departments, and went on to deal with the part which the manufacturing industries could play in the rehabilitation of men on their return from the war.

Mr Somerville pointed out that conditions in this war are totally different from those which existed during the Great War of 1914-18. During that period, he said, New Zealand was well stocked with manufactured goods and had excellent supplies of raw materials for manufacturing into finished goods. The Dominion’s credit was unlimited; it was able to obtain supplies from overseas countries, and there were ships to bring these supplies to New Zealand. To-day everything was under Government control. Credits were controlled, shipping was most difficult, even from the United States, and from indications, it would appear that this country was just beginning to feel the effects of short supplies in all kinds of commodities. He felt certain that the average person did not realise what ti.e New Zealand manufacturer has done, and was still doing, to keep up supplies of essential goods of excellent quality made in New Zealand by New Zealand people for New Zealand’s needs. Quality Defended “We often hear from people who do not know," Mr Somerville added, “that we cannot make quality goods in New Zealand. , This is all nonsense, and the retail public is fortunate indeed that manufacturers have risen to the occasion. While manufacturers are employing a large section of the community on productive work, I feel I should draw your attention to the growth in the personnel of Government departments. Herein lies a grave danger to the economic life of the Dominion. It seems to me that before long one-half of the population will be asked to keep the other half. This just cannot be done. Take the rapid growth of such departments as Industries and Commerce, Social Security, Taxation, Interna] Marketing, and the Price Tribunal. It may be argued that some of the growth is due to the war. and to some extent rightly so, but I am afraid it will be like taxation, which is always on (he increase and never recedes.” Future Problems

Dealing with the future, Mr Somerville said that it was more than likely that many things that we had cherished in the past would have to go, and he made the suggestion that the Manufacturers’ Federa on would be well-advised to study this problem at once and so be ready for peace-time conditions. “ The rehabilitation of our soldiers will be a great problem,” he said, “ and we want to make a better job of it than was done after the last war. Here I feel that industry can do a great job, and it is up to us to see that many of the returned men are given an opportunity to get back into industry as quickly as possible. Wfe do not want the returned men to be put into public works as a palliative, nor do we want them all to be put on the land. We shall have to see to it that something is done to place them in industry. We shall have to do our part and gel behind any scheme that will achieve this purpose.”

Mr Somerville added that the Dunedin Association was at present examining a scheme for the rehabilitation of disabled soldiers. He expressed admiration of the scheme. It would, of, course, be necessary, he said, to place some of the returned men on public works, and in this 'connection his opinion was that one of the first works to be undertaken after the war in this district should be the building of a tunnel from Waitati to Sawyers’ Bay, thus shortening the route, reducing haulage, and speeding up the time between Dunedin and the northern cities.