 Armstrong also argued that secondary industries needed to be established in New Zealand, believing that overdependence on farm exporting was a mistake.One noted occasion led him to impugn the government who seemed content the country be little more than 'a cowyard' and ministers were 'only capable of thinking in terms of beef and butterfat'.He held ministerial positions in the First Labour Government, including as Minister of Labour, where in 1936 he legislated a major reform to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act which established a statutory minimum wage, standardised the 40-hour week and enshrined compulsory unionism.