SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 7

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES

NEED FOR DEVELOPAIENT. SOLUTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT. (Per Press Association J WELLINGTON, June 24. Development of secondary industries as a means of removing the unemployment evil was urged by Air G. W. Lead ley at the N.Z.R.S.A. conference to-day

Last year manufactured goods in New Zealand were valued at millions, said Mr Leadley. If that sum could be in creased by ten millions it would give employment to 15,000 more men. Having classified the unemployed and ascertained the number of skilled men the problem of the Unemployment Board was to get skilled workers back to their vocations. They could not all be turned into farmers. The Board had come to the decision that the best method to put these men in industry was by an intensive campaign for our New Zealand manufactures. Under the present schemes a great deal had been done to bring land into cultivation. Much useful and reproductive work had been done all over the Dominion. The cost had been £650,000, more than the whole of the year’s revenue from the unemployment levy. It had been suggested that the Board should adopt a comprehensive land settlement scheme and a five-year plan was suggested by Air Coates. It was an excellent scheme which would give employment to 4000 men for five years and then leave 4000 extra settlers, but that scheme would have taken all the funds for 4000 men and it was not adequate with 44,000 unemployed. The Board had done the next best thing in endeavouring to increase production by a system of farming on land already occupied. Air Leadley proceeded to give instances of good work done under Schemes 4a and 4b. One good thing which would come out of the depression, like a flower growing out of an ugly stem, was the increasing desire among citizens to serve their fellow men on unemployment committees, giving to relief funds, and in many other directions. Such help could not be measured in £ s. d. but was important in the life of the nation. Special reference was made to tho work of Air Burdekin, vice-chair-man of tho Board, whose knowledge of economics and finance had been of tremendous 'value to tho Board.

A resolution was passed expressing appreciation of the work of tho Unemployment ‘ Board and urging tho provision of further finance to enable the Board to continue its work and assist in land development on a large scale.