PLEA FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 6

PLEA FOR HIGHER PRODUCTION

“BIG PROBLEMS TO OVERCOME” MR SULLIVAN DISCUSSES IMPORT REGULATIONS - (United Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 15. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that the Government was striving to increase production on the part of every section of workers, farmers and manufacturers, because unless there was such an increase the Government would be unable to achieve its ideal of greater health, happiness and prosperity for everyone, irrespective of class or occupation. There had been a falling off of production and export values which had caused some disquiet and there were reasons for these things, said Mr Sullivan. For three years, for instance, he had been trying to induce wheat growers to provide all the wheat required for New Zealand’s needs. The growers had done their best to respond, but neither they nor the Government could control the weather, which had been persistently bad, and had prevented the realization of the objective. Similar factors applied, to some extent, to the falling off in dairy production. New Zealand had some big problems to overcome in production, among them being animal and plant diseases, as well as land deterioration and erosion, and the Government was laying itselt out to try to find a solution. Mr Sullivan added that he was confident that the ultimate outcome of the import licensing system would not be to reduce the total volume of trade with the United Kingdom, though there would probably be a change m the kind of goods imported. _ln the long run the policy of building up local industries would probably be even greater trade with Britain, but in raw materials and plant instead of finished products. . The general increase in employment in industry, he said, had a tremendous effect upon the lives of young people leaving school and the industries which showed an expanding number of employees included clothing (1088), saw milling (359), furniture (338), electrical engineering (257), printing and publishing (250). “We must look to the manufacturing industries to provide employment for our people. The expansion of manufacturing has not been confined to any one centre —it is general throughout the whole Dominion,” the Minister said. “Never before in the history of New Zealand has such a major step been taken in the manufacturing industry as the adoption of the Government s policy of import selection, said Mr Sullivan. Tire clothing factories in the Dunedin district were working to full capacity as the result of a rush or orders received from local retail houses. Individual factories were training new operatives to take their places in the factories to meet the demand for products and one factory had reported that the new business already received would keep the factory in full operation during the normal slack period or May and June. Never before in the firm’s history had the factory been busy at that period. A tanning factory had also reported that for the first time ' for many years the tannery was working two shifts daily and the staff was nearly double what it was a year ago. The woollen mills had experienced a greater demand for their products. One firm was taking on new hands as soon as they became available, while another was erecting a new factory and still another was starting the manufacturing of a new line which prevously was all imported from abroad. Anothei concern was preparing to invest approximately £20,000 in a factory and plant to make a new product. The Minister also quoted increased activity in the radio industry, the footwear industry and in the development of silica products. Hardware and farming requisites would also be made in New Zealand in greater quantities as additional productive facilities were brought into operation. There were reports that an overseas concern was contemplating the erection of a large factory in Now Zealand to make toilet preparations and soap and another overseas concern was arranging to have its laundry products made in the Dominion. Brushware manufacturers had had to increase their staffs. Good orders were being received by the biscuit and confectionery industries, with a consequent increase in employment. The Minister also mentioned a number of instances of an expenditure ofcapital on the initiation and development of industries in New Zealand.