PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: PM's No 80/ 72
TEXTILE INDUSTRY DEPUTATION
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. William McMahon,
M. P.
The Prime inister and the Deputy Prime Minister in Canberra
today met a deputation from the Australian Textile Apparel and Related
Industries Conference.
The & putation was led by Sir obert Webster, Chairman of
Directors of Bradmill Industries Ltd. and President of the Australian
Textile Apparol and Related Industries Conference. Other members
of the deputation included " r Warren Adcock, representing the
Australian Confederation of Apparel 7anufacturers; Mr John Brady,
Chairman of Crestknit Ltd., representing the Australian Knitting
Industries Council; and Mr A. J. Burgess, Director of the Textile
Council of Australia.
The Deputation outlined some of the difficulties confronting
the textile and apparel industries and there was a full and thorough
discussion. The Ministers assured the delegation that the Government
was looking closely and sympathetically at the problems of these
industries. The Prime Minister repeated the views he had expressed in
Adelaide last month when he emphasised the Government's recognition
of the important place occupied by manufacturing industries in the
Australian economy. The Prime ninister referred again to the fact
that -the Government was negotiating for voluntary restraint
arrangements with low cost overseas countries in order to ensure
protection for Australian manufacturers of textiles and apparel.
The Prime Minister also commended the efforts of Sir Robert Webster
and the industry itself in recent negotiations to bring about
voluntary restraints by countries exporting to Australia.
24 August 1972
CANBERRA