TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 28 February 1929, Page 12

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

• CO-OPERATION URGED BY PRIME MINISTER. PROGRESS OK SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, February 27. Speaking at the Manufacturers’ Federation luncheon to-day, Sir Joseph Ward said that wonderful progress had been made by the secondary industries of the country. In the period 1923-27 the number of persons employed had increased by < per cent., and wages by 24 per cent., while the total value of their products had increased by 12 per cent, and the value of plant, machinery, buildings and land by no less than 42 per cent. So far as the requirements of Government Departments were concernled, the Government had given instructions that wherever practicable, New Zealand-made goods should be used, and that in future New Zealand manufacturers were to be given ail opportunity of tendering for the requirements. of the different State Departments.

| With regard to the setting up of a Tariff’ Board, the Government wanted I to co-operate with manufacturers in securing such a tariff as would best promote the interests of the whole country and encourage the whole of the Dominion’s industries, but he did not believe that New Zealand could go in for anything like high protection. He believed that the interests of manufacturers and farmers and the general public were so intertwined that they needed to exercise judgment and fairness in every way. The Government would seek to remove difficulties from the path of nil those engaged in primary and secondary industries, and to inculcate and encourage a spirit of true co-operation between them. The only way to reach the fullest development of the Country’s industries was by hearty co-operation between the producers in the country and dwellers in the town.

The furtherance of industries, to give employment to people, could be aided by means of the Tariff Board, or by means of a Commission going from t.ime_ to time throughout the country required to be considered. What the Government would do. if it were allowed, was to complete the railways that should be completed, and to bring about a system of land settlement wherebv men who are unemployed would be able, with Government assistance, to establish themselves on the land—not on holdings ot thousands of acres, but on small holdings. and permanently remove themselves from the itinerant ranks of excess labour.

The Government was pledged against undue interference by the State, in business. The Government- would not taitc shares, or any other interest, in any private business, as lie was snrfinc| tl ? at some people were j: ir 1 ° j°’ kut'Was out to secure / ' j lld the fullest opportunity toi all Industrie? in the interests ot the whole of the people of the Dominion.