STOCKTAKING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 8

STOCKTAKING.

PROBLEMS OF FUTURE. POST-WAR NEW ZEALAND. Some of the problems of post-war reconstruction as it applied to Xew Zealand were discussed to-day by Mr. W. J. Truscott, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, in a luncheon address to the Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce. There were many difficulties facing Uis, he said, and it was necessary that all should give thought to them in order that a way out might be found.

The possible extension in the use of margerine in place of butter and the use of synthetic materials in place of wool was one serioms question which New Zealand might have to face, and there were other questions which might arise out of the settlement following this war. It had been suggested, for instance, that a peace pact ehouM be entered into by all the countries bordering the Pacific. That would necessarily mean commercial agreements. How would that affect Xew Zealand—considering the contract in standards of living?

It was w!ee, he eaid, for Xew Zealan<ler.s, jiartioularly the yurnig businessiueii to take stock of their country"e

resources and on that to base their planning for the future. Our geographical position,"the fact that as a primary producing country w<- were so far from the markets of the world, and our high costs of production were all factors on the liability side.

As assets we had our climatic conditions, our fertile eoil and the fact that we could produce through all seasons of the year. Our physical and mental w;tup, too, could be compared with that of any country in the world without shame. After considering thoue aspects we had to realise that it was up to us to see that New Zealand would come out well in the future.

In our summing up of the prospects of the future we liad to make allowance, too, for "a changed order of things." The "lnassee" in Great Britain were doing a wonderful work at the present time, a work without which victory would not be possible. There was room for improvement in conditions affecting them. An effort had to be made to see that everyone had a maximum chance of happiness, with a reasonable standard of living. He hadn't got the solution to the accomplishment of this "changed order"; he didn't believe that anybody bad as yet, but we had to give thought to it in the endeavour to find a solution.

Hβ urged, as one possible way of improving conditions, that people should be paid by results and the effort put into the job. Hβ had applied that principle in his own business with great success. The recent introduction of the contract system on the wharves wag an effort in that direction. It had to be conceded, he said, that there must be a "levelling up," but ij, «hould be a levelling up measured by the individual effort.