SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 5

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT PROMISED. TOO MUCH SPENT IN LUXURIES. Bjr Telecraph—Praio Asaoctafcion. WELLINGTON, February 24. The determination of the Government to do everything possible to foster the secondary industries of the Dominion was expressed by the Hon J. B. Donald, Minister of Industries and Commerce, at the annual conference of manufacturers in Wellington to-day. At the same time the Minister stated that he was definitely opposed to I anything in the shape of high protec- I tion. He was glad to see that the manufacturers themselves did not favour high protection, because it would be a bad thing for the country if the cost of living was forced up. The Minister considered the people to-day were spending too much on luxuries, and not enough on the necessities of life. New Zealand could not afford to pay £8,000,000 yearly for motor cars and things that go with them. There were many things at present brought into the country which could be made in New Zealand if they went the right away about it. At the same time he did not think it should be thought we should not trade overseas. They must not lose sight of the fact that if we were to exist as a nation there must be trade between various countries. The inquiry committee which the Government had set lup was a strong one, and should do good work. Its recommendations would I receive every consideration and the head of the Department, Mr J. W. Col- 1 lins, who was shortly leaving for Canada, would be on the look out for beneficial information. Mr Collins said the committee would not be hurried in its work, and the itinerary could be extended if necessary. A resolution was passed requesting the Government, when granting State Advances loans for building, to stipulate the material or articles are the product of New Zealand and New Zea- : land workers, provided the New Zea- : land product is comparable with any 1 available imported substitute or the cost of the New Zealand product does i not entail a substantial addition to the * subsequent cost of the building. i