H.—44

During the seven years the plan has been in force, fifty-one pharmacy licenses have been surrendered due to amalgamation or closing down of redundant units. Tt is noteworthy that this phase of the plan has now passed, and it is being replaced by a steady increase in the number of applications for transfers and new licenses, no fewer than fourteen new licenses having been granted during the year. Electric Ranges. Production of electric ranges has been limited by the materials which it has been possible to release to the industry. Manufacturers have maintained full production up to the limit of available material. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE The Department, in common with other State organizations, and working principally with the Industrial Development Committee of the Organization of National Development, is looking for ways and means of providing for full employment. The true manufacturing industries of New Zealand already provide work for more than 80,000 workers, great strides having been made in the past ten years, and there would appear to be reasonable expectations for further opportunities for employment in this field. In the past, New Zealand has looked mainly to its primary enterprises and allied industries, together with a continuing policy of public works, expanded as necessary from time to time, to provide maximum employment, and to this end every prospect of development through expansion of secondary industry must also be examined. The responsibility is not one for the State alone, but for the combined efforts of public and private enterprise. In woiking towards this objective through the expansion and further development of manufacturing industry, the Department enjoys, in addition to its close association with manufacturing enterprises during the past twenty-five years, the experience of, and consultation with, representatives of private enterprise and workers on the Industrial Development Committee of the Organization for National Development. The Committee is one of the most important of nine research and planning Committees which have been set up within the framework of the Organization for National Development. It is concerned specifically with problems affecting the industrial life of the Dominion, and more particularly with those arising during the transition period when manufacturing industries are being converted fiom a wartime to a peacetime basis, and also with long-term planning of manufacturing industry. The Government must necessarily play a major part in the association with private enterprise which a combination of the Department and. the Committee represents, for upon the Government falls the responsibility of giving protection from exploitation, to plan development and location of industry, and to be fully acquainted with the proposals of private enterprise, in order to proceed effectively with its own plans for national development. Emerging as it is from the huge task of procurement and supply during the war years, the Department is faced with a considerable problem of reorientation in the mattei of development of secondary industry, but the necessary departmental reorganization to give the close attention that the subject requires is being made as rapidly as possible, having regard to the difficulties attending the transition from war activities to those of peace. Whilst the Industrial Development Committee is concerned with general policy, the Department, as the administrative body, is dealing with the practical issues, such as assisting in the provision of plant and raw materials to expand and develop secondary industry, and carry out investigations in relation to projected major expansions and new developments. The Committee has behind it the Organization for National Development, with a staff of economic specialists, and with it is employed the departmental machinery of Industries and Commerce to devise and implement the plans best suited to the Dominion s economy. There is, of course, a clear need for caution and prevision in an approach to any major development for expanding industry, so as to reap the maximum benefit of the new materials and new techniques in relation to production and distribution which have been developed over the war years. INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE (IMPORT CONTROL) The Industries Committee, in co-operation with Comptroller of Customs, has continued to make recommendations on applications for import licenses, more particularly in those cases involving the supply of plant and raw materials for the development of local industry. The cessation of hostilities in Europe has caused a quickening of interest on the part of industrial companies throughout New Zealand towards formulating post-war plans for industrial development, and the number of such matters being received for consideration has shown a marked increase. The Committee carefully reviews all such requests, and while it may be too early to make definite statements, in view of the fact that sufficient time has not elapsed to enable plans to be developed to maturity, it may be reasonably stated that the future of industry in New Zealand appears to be particularly bright. The Industries Committee is playing a part also in the rehabilitation of discharged servicemen. Conferences have taken place between the Committee and representatives of the Department of Rehabilitation and the Customs Department, and a special procedure has been formulated which tends to make for prompt and sympathetic attention being given to requests from discharged servicemen who are desirous of establishing themselves in industry. NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS Ihe Department has maintained close co-operation with the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation. There has been a free exchange of information on all subjects of common interest, and close' collaboration on the question of publicity for the encouragement of New Zealand manufactures. The Department extends its appreciation to the executive and administrative officers of the. federation And local associations for their helpful co-operation.;

8