HELPING INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19452, 17 December 1934, Page 15

HELPING INDUSTRY.

ACTIVITY IN BRITAIN.

LESSONS FOR NEW ZEALAND

CO-ORDINATION OR EFFORT. The Prime Minister, Hon G. W. Forbes, addressing the annual meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, said: — “I have before me an interesting account of a conference of Industrialists in 'Great Britain, representing 21 different co-operative research associations, and an industrial effort providing over £600,000,000 of net output. This gathering went on record, based on actual experience, in favour of such co-operation. "The co-ordination which those present had in mind was in regard to research and technical problems and trade statistics of their industries, leaving the selling and distributing to private agreements. “At the meeting Mr Walter Runolman. President of the Board of Trade, on behalf of the Government, stated: ‘With regard to the attitude of the Government towards this movement I oan assure you that we are watching It with great interest, and hope to see it develop to a very much greater extent than at. present. I look forward with confidence to the industrialists of this country mending matters in this respect, especially now. that the prospects of trade look more promising. If they do you may rely on the Government, on its side, being prepared to play some part, in the forward movement and to help extend the scale of operations.” Quotations from the speeches of those I have mentioned above are the following:—

Lord Rutherford’s Views. Lord Rutherford.—“ The Government is prepared, as we have seen to do something, but inevitabliy on the basis that God helps those who help themselves. The help of the Government is very largely dependent on how far an Industry is prepared to help itself. We have now reached a stage in industry in this country where each individual industry lias got to pull itself together anil consider Itself as a unit in dealing with Its affairs, and this should be the case with regard to ils association. I think that psychologically it. is a mattnn of great importance that, each industry should have a sense of pride nnd solldarlt; in its business, and feel Hint, the members of it are doing their best to promote efficiency ami lo give 11m public good value for their money." The chairman of the Linen Association. —“The question of research has become very dear lo us in the linen industry, and is now reckoned of prime importance lo the linen industry in the north of Ireland and in Scotland, represented here to-da.v.” Mr Thorneyerofl (Motors). —“1 am Convinced that there are quite as 'manv slums hi the mentality of the people in our works as there are slums In houses. You cannot pos-

slbly afford to pay for those new houses if our industry does not go ahead to make the money, therefore let ua have many millions given fop research, and I am quite convinced It will bo well spent.” “I can assure you that these sentiments are shared by myself,” said Mr Forbes. “Industries are so specialised that to be effective any cooperation in these regard must be by individual industries or groups of industries, working more or less autonomously themselves, but with a general 00-ordinated iiason service for all industries. As to the benefits of such co-operation we have ‘ already tried it in many of the more primary industries, such as wheat, fruit and dairying, and in two of our secondary industries, and the results 'have shown that the principles are sound, and that beneiflt has accrued to the industry as a whole. It means, however, a general willingness to contribute for such services,' in which case the Government will be willing to contribute in every possible way without undue ‘interference In the management. Action must, however, be taken co-operatively under the conditions of the size of our New Zealand 1 manufacturing units. It would in. j many cases be impossible for each in- j dividual. concern to run such an in-1 vestigation service in .connection with its work, and, indeed, if..they tried to do it it would be a very wasteful performance.

Activities Increasing. "As a result of this meeting I refer to the co-operative activities in Great Britain, already on a large scale, are increasing, and I 'quote from a letter just received to-day from Lord Rutherford: —‘Some of the bigger associations, like cotton, Iron, steel, etc., have responded nobly, and as a result a number of them will in the next year or two be on a considerably increased scale and big enough to act as real centres for the Industries concerned. On the whole, wc are fairly well satisfied, hut it is obvious that there Is a lot to do to get the whole of our industries scientifically minded. This will be largely accelerated when the younger generation gels into power.’ “Co-operation such as the abovo by vour industries would go a long way to solve those industries problems by making sure that the Government regulations impinging on Industry, such as tariffs, machinery regulations and questions connected with labour, would receive sympathetic treatment, for Ihc community would be assured that your industries are making every endeavour lo procure efficiency in the interests of the consumer, and it would lend to make such co-operation more of a peaceful and voluntary nature than one of regulation, argument. ami Interference. Bui such co-operation will undoubtedly require a greater measure of unanimity in the various units of industry on common problems and a willingness in contribute in some way.

Licensing of Industries. ‘ Wo come now In the important question raised in your Federation’s proposals—llial is. that of the licensing of industries. In regard to new industries not. competing directly with existing industries and

where large capital cost is involved in development, and where tariff protection is not required, so that j tlie consumers’ interest is not detrimentally affected, there is, I think, a case to be made for a limited number of licenses for a period sufficient to allow the new industry to get on ils feel. Examples of such industries may possibly bo found in such undertakings as hydrogenerat.lon of coal, production of nitrogenous fertilisers, certain chemicals, eto. In regard to existing industries, in my opinion there would he almost insurmountable difficulties, unless wc could obviate, the danger of eliminating healthy competition and discouraging those individual efforts towards improvement which have such an important bearing on progress. “The problem is very difficult and wo must procoed slowly and surely towards a solution ill the interests of manufacturers and public alike." “In all national organisations of industry we must walrh that Hie spirit i of progress and individual initiative is j given free play. The Government, is very much alive to the necessity for j

encouragement of the development of industry, and we shall be pleased to • give every consideration to constructive proposals and co-operate in every way possible. It is for those reasons that Ihe Hon. R. 'Masters is now freed to devote more personal attention to this important question."