ECONOMIC PLANS FOR N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 23678, 29 November 1938, Page 11

ECONOMIC PLANS FOR N.Z.

“New Deal” Discussed By Mr Savage SYSTEMATIC EXPANSION OF INDUSTRY A “New Deal” for New Zealand, involving the systematic expansion of industry and industrial employment and accompanied, if necessary, by planned immigration of skilled workers, was announced by the Prime Minister, (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview published in last week’s issue ot the Labour paper, The Standard. “Yes, this is New Zealand s New Deal,” said Mr Savage, in reply to a question. “It has not come too soon. The fact of the matter is that it has taken too long already. I am not blaming anybody for that, but so far we have not made the progress we want to see made, and which the people of this country expected to see made. “If ever there was a case of emergency, this is one, without waiting for war,” the Prime Minister said at another stage in the interview. If we can’t handle things successfully in peace time, we can hardly be expected to make a success of them in a war. A REPORT ON POSSIBILITIES The Government, he continued, was expediting new economic plans for New Zealand. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) had a report showing what could be done now, in three months, m six months and in 12 months, to. expand production with the existing manufacturing plants. There was not a man or woman now working who could not do something to help. It was a question of increasing the number of people at work and ensuring them decent conditions. If it was necessary to bring people to New Zealand to expand production, that must be done. “There are a lot of half-pie economists telling us why our credits overseas are disappearing,” Mr Savage added. “Everybody knows that we can do better things and bigger things, and that it is necessary to get the trade balance where it ought to be, instead of against us.” It was no use talking about insulating' New Zealand against shocks from the outside world unless the country was able to stand more firmly on its own feet than it could today, continued Mr Savage. To bring that about it was necessary to obtain the sympathetic co-operation of all the organizations of workers in the Government’s plans. In the broadcast speeches he intended to make he would tell the people that the country iould not distribute what it did not produce, and that before the people’s standards could be lifted still higher there must be an increase in production. That, meant getting more labour. The workers should get rid of the idea that there would be fewer jobs for themselves if the number of workers was increased. There was much room in New Zealand for continued expansion, and. the number of skilled workers should be increased by bringing in a certain number from outside and training others. CANDID WORDS TO WORKERS In conclusion, Mr Savage emphasized that the people must share with the Government the responsibility for increasing production. Without their co-operation, he said, it could not be brought about. That the co-operation of the workers was essential was also stated, in candid terms by the Prime Minister in addressing the quarterly meeting of the national council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour last Tuesday. If Labour was ever going to play a real part in the government of New Zealand, he said, it had to begin in the places where the work was done. If the workers were going to begin by simply voting for Labour candidates, and then holding up the work of the country, the Government would not be able to get anywhere. There was a glorious opportunity in New Zeaalnd to build a wonderful country, but wealth could not be produced simply by turning a handle and printing money. The immigration aspect of. the new policy was discussed further in a telephone interview with The New Zealand Herald by Mr Savage, who made it clear that in the Government’s view careful planning was essential. “As long as we are expanding production we can prepare the way,” the Prime Minister said, “but we will not be parties to bringing people to this Dominion and allowing them to scramble for themselves. We want a plan in operation that will not make any inroads on dur standard of living. “Those who come will be welcomed and assisted by the Government. As soon as we are satisfied that we . are short of labour in certain directions, the Government will get into touch with the High Commissioner’s office in London, which is being deluged with letters and applications from people who want to come here. I refer to people of the right type—artisans of every sort. Ido not see any difficulty there at all.” SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED Mr Savage added that New Zealand could not expand production to any considerable extent with its present population. To begin to expand population without a considered plan would be little short of madness. As soon as the plan was prepared he wanted action. Dealing briefly with what had been done so far, Mr Savage said that the Ministers of Industries and Commerce and of Finance, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan and the Hon. W. Nash, had obtained a considerable amount of, information on what could be done now and in the near future. Some members of the Cabinet were engaged upon a plan, and, if any person in New Zealand had any constructive suggestions to offer, the Government would be glad to receive and consider them. It was not possible at present to disclose details, added Mr Savage, but conferences would be held with persons who were willing to expand present industries or begin new ones.