DOMINION'S NEED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20273, 6 April 1934, Page 8

DOMINION'S NEED.

Development of Secondary Industries. LABOUR PARTY'S VIEWS. Members of the New Zealand Labour Party visited the Woolston Tanneries this morning, and were conducted over the works bv the managing director (Mr C. M. Ollivier). They expressed pleasure at what they saw, and especially at the factory, where deer, sheep and lamb skins are made into gloves for export to Australia and for the New Zealand market. The party included Mr M. J. Savage, M.P. (Leader of the Opposition), and Messrs F. Langstone, M.P. (Waimsrino), R. Semple, M.P. (Wellington East), and R. M’Keen, M.P. (Wellington South). After the inspection, they addressed the employees. Mr Savage stressed the need for the development of the Dominion's secondary industries, and said that the Woolston Tanneries afforded a good example of what could be done in that direction. Their leather products were second to none in the world, and he felt sure that othen industries could be made their equal. Referring to the congestion existing in world markets to-day, Mr Savage said that New Zealand should manufacture only for her needs. This could be done if the country treated its own raw materials for its requirements. “ Set Own Standards.” Also referring to the need for developing secondary industries, Mr Langstone declared that the standard of living and price levels in New Zealand should not be determined by those of other countries. New Zealand should fix her standards and pay salaries commensurate with the standard of living in the Dominion. “In the development of secondary industries lies the greatest chance of solving the unemployment problem,” he continued. “ This is my firm conviction, yet I represent-a farming community.” “ The Minister of Lands, who also is Minister of Mines, has refused to allow, any more mines to be opened on account of over-production. On the other hand, disregarding the present state of the farming industry, he says more men must go on the land. This is only making the farming community more insolvent. “ If we follow the policy outlined by our leader, we will have a population capable of purchasing our goods and industries capable of producing our wants. This is a much better course that settling people on the land to make New. Zealand a farmyard for the rest of the world.” Solution of Problem. The solution of New Zealand’s problem lay in the development of her secondary industries, Mr Langstone concluded, and the Labour Party would work 100 per cent towards this aim. New Zealand markets must be kept for New Zealand labour and New Zealand manufactures. “ We must make this little country of ours our own workshop,” said Mr Semple. “ The present Government is following a ‘ wait and see ’ policy in the hopes that some other country will hit on something that it can copy. We have got to put our house in order right here. “ There is no article in the world better than this,” he declared, holding out a sample of the Tanneries’ leather “ We can produce other goods equally excellent.” Mr M’Keen said that the Labour Party was definitely set in its determination to develop secondary industries, and touched on the need for development so as to place children leaving school. New Zealand should make its own needs from its natural resources.