FIGHT TO SURVIVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 7, 12 September 1944, Page 6

FIGHT TO SURVIVE

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

BENEFICIAL SYSTEM

During his review of the past year's operations at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the president Mr O. Svenson, declared that private enterprise was responsible for most of the, material benefits, enjioj-ed bj r mankind, but in recent days in New Zealand it was up against control and direction by the State and would have to light hard to survive; He was confident that in peace and war it was in the best interests of the State and the* individual to foster private enterprise, and this was especially so in business.

The average man said Mr Svcnson, wanted the privilege of deciding for himself, and Avas self-reliant to the degree that if lie made losses he did not expect the rest of the community to share them. He conceded there Avas some merit in State control in wartime, but'recalled that before the in 1938, import restrictions Avere imposed. Hundreds of small and large business men, import and indent agents., were .thereby crushed out of business, literally overnight. Some of them had re-established themselves by their courage and enterprise; others Averc still battling for a competence in other avenues of. trade and service.

Private enterprise declared Mr Svcnson, created competition in a sporting and healthy manner. It cut out and was fair and valuable to the whole community being" an advantage to the consumer. Individual service was prclerablc to State service in most for it was based on opposition to monopoly. Co-operation with Farmers The speaker said the business man in the towns and cities depended to a large degree upon the fanning community t and it was therefore pleasing to him to see the growing co-operation of the chambers of commerce with farming interests and organisations. A better understanding of each other's, problems and aspirations would benefit both. t-Ie was convinced that business me,ll at times felt frustrated by the exactions of the State ? but lie hoped for better times, ahead. Farmers as a class had worked very hard during tlie war years, and it was gratifying to learn that they had security for the next four years by reason of the fact that tlie Government of Great Britain had undertaken to purchase their whole available pro-i duction at a price that assured a fairly good reward for their labour involved. He asked the primary producers to consider the position of the business people not so fortunately circumstanced.

Mr Svc.ns.on said he hoped the fanners would not seek to engage in business that was peculiarly the prerogative ol' the business-trained man. The two industries could understand each other's objectives and reach an understanding and smooth out difficulties, that might occur between them. The business men were desirous of assisting the realising that he was their best customer year in and year out.