PILING UP ARMS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20126, 23 February 1937, Page 2

PILING UP ARMS

BRITAIN PROSPEROUS. MORE PURCHASING POWER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The effect on Industry of Britain’s rearmament programme was referred to by Lord McGowan, chairman and managing director of Imperial Chemical Industries, who arrived by the Awatea to-day from Sydney. Lord McGowan said his company was very busy on manufacturing munitions* of various kinds and would continue to be busy for some time to come. Almost every large industry in Britain was affected in some way or other as a result of the Government’s defence policy, and to-day there was a shortage of skilled workers in England. The defence programme had come on top of a return to prosperity of the ordinary kind, and there had been, a heavy demand on skilled labour. Beneficial Effeot. Primary producing countries like New Zealand would feel the beneficial efTect or the present good economic conditions iri Britain, as the purchasing power of the people was increased, said Lord McGowan, and in this way a country like New Zealand would feel the effect of defence works in Britain. Apart from the use of extra raw materials, there was sure to be an increased demand for foodstuffs on the part of British people. Unemployment in Britain had been reduced from 3,000,000 to 1,500,000, but the defence programme alone was not responsible for that decrease.