ROOM TO EXPAND.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 370, 11 March 1932, Page 12

ROOM TO EXPAND.

Removal of Restrictions in Arbitration Act. AID FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, March 10. One of the points urged by the Minister of Labour in commending to the House the amendments in the arbitration system was that the removal of many restrictions will enable secondary industries to develop. He had requested the Government Statistician to give him a list of articles which could be made in New Zealand, but were imported, and their value, he found, came to nine millions sterling. These were goods which ought to be made in New Zealand, but there was some factor operating to prevent it. Some might say we ought to have more protective tariffs, but these tended to make things dearer rather than cheaper. He was afraid there was a tendency for a fight to grow up between the exporting classes and those engaged in local secondary industries, but it was desirable to standardise relations, between these two interests. “If the export industry had been under the Arbitration Act,” concluded Mr Hamilton, “ it would not have developed to its present stage. I don’t know what price butter and meat would have been under the arbitration system, but the primary industries have been free from restrictive laws, and have consequently expanded. On the other hand, local industries have tended to go down all the time and have not stood up to the test.” Mr Carr (Labour, Timaru): The Government had not encouraged them. The Minister: Yes, just as much as the primary industries, and if we get this Act through they will be able to make great strides and manufacture goods which to-day we import.