NEW INDUSTRIES

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160795, 1 November 1920, Page 4

NEW INDUSTRIES

POSSIBILITIES FOR THE DOMINION, What might be done in the industrial world in New Zealand was briefly touched upon by Mr A. L. Hunt, president of the. Wellington Central ■Cli amber of Commerce, a few nights ago. “Valuable mineral deposits remain unworked,” he said. “We have extensive coal deposits and mountains of iron and copper which but require the magic touch of industry to turn the same into untold wealth. Oar wool is exported in a greasy condition and a proportion of it mixed with vegetable natter, whereas both scouring and carbonising are industries that should thrive in New Zealand. ’ilren again we are content to manufacture but a fraction of the woollen goods we require. Sugar shortage is a household phrase notwithstanding that this country is admirably adapted for the growing of sugar beet of heavy yield, both in bulk and sugar content. Enormous sums are being sent away for tobacco, while the finest quality leaf can be successfully grown in many parts o£ the North Island. Expert manufacture is all that is needed to make the Dominion selfsupporting in this respect In common with the rest of the world, we are continually troubled with a paper famine and it is surely desirable that research work in connection with our soft woods and fibrous grasses should be instituted with a view to the possibility of establishing paper manufacture within our own borders. With the exception of our seaport towns, the supply of fish is totally inadequate, yet the waters of New Zealand teem with a large supply of this high-class food. “Given more courage and enterprise on the nart of capitalists—the elimination of ‘go slow’ and strikes by labour—and a greater supply of it by immigration,” said Mr Hunt, “many of the industries mentioned would not only make us independent of outside sources of supply but also provide an export surplus. Many will sav labour bars the way, but with an active and sincere effort on the part of employers to make labour a partner by profitsharing schemes, and an unbiased trial of such a svstera by sane labour, it should not be impassible to overcome even this difficulty.”