CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22508, 16 September 1938, Page 16

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON

“TELL NEW ZEALAND”

CAMPAIGN '

ADDRESS BY LEADER OF

OPPOSITION

(PBESS ASSOCIATION ; TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, September 15. Nearly 100 representatives of private enterprise drawn from eight provincesattended a conference convened by the “Tell New Zealand” campaign, and held in Wellington on Wednesday. An advisory council of the campaign .was appointed as a committee to constitute a national development council. Broadly, the object of the council will be to increase the prosperity of New Zealand by the development of private enterprise as an alternative to State enterprise. . Speakers expressed alarm at increasing Government interfeience in business and at the 'heavy taxation which was retarding development. The formation of a body which would have the confidence of all sections of private enterprise was, they considered, essential. It was emphasised that private enterprise included all businesses from the smallest shop to the largest company, and all farming interests. . , A programme giving a true balance between primary and secondary development was considered essential. “There is no room in New Zealand for a town versus country outlook,” one speaker slated. ... The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) addressed the conference, “We want private enterprise to do the job in New Zealand, he said. He added a warning that the job must be done efficiently or the capitalist system would disappear from New Zealand. Resolutions passed were: — That this conference, recognising the need for organised action by private enterprise, appoints an advisory council of the “Tell New Zealand” campaign as a committee, with power to add, to constitute a national development council, representative of private enterprise to co-operate with all or any institutions of private enterprise in facilitating the .expansion of existing industry in New Zealand or the development of New Zealand industry; to co-operate with the Government for the time being in such a manner as may seem to the council to be wise or expedient in achieving the objectives mentioned; to establish such relations as may seem wise or expedient with the Empire Development Council, or any other body or bodies in Britain or elsewhere whose objectives may be of value or assistance to the council; to take all such steps as the council may deem necessary to achieve the objectives mentioned. That pending‘the appointment of a national development council, the said advisory council to the ‘Tell New Zoaland” campaign he empowered to take any slops necessary desirable to further the objectives of the proposed national development council. That this conference, believing that a policy of excessive taxation and excessive borrowing must inevitably bring disaster in its train, and that socialisation of industry must suite initiative and retard production of real wealth, requests the Government to reverse its present policy and adopt in its place a policy of lax reduction, debt reduction, and private business expansion, as a way to prosperity for the New Zealand worker and employer alike. . That this conference requests the Hon Adam Hamilton to say whether his party will, in general terms, adopt the policy stated in the preceding paragraph, provided the leaders of the enterprise are prepared to organise private business expansion. That this conference agrees that any such change of policy should be carried out at a pace which will not dislocate commercial policies built up to meet the present Government policy or in a manner that will make the working man the victim of the change. At the end of the conference the following further resolutions were made: 1 — ■

That this conference commends the work of the “Tell New Zealand” campaign in organising this conference of private enterprise. That those present agree to cooperate in their own areas with any committee set up to assist a national development council in its work.

That those present will assist in every way possible to establish a fund to. enable the work of a national development council to be properly carried out.

Address By Mr Hamilton

“We want private enterprise to dothe job in New Zealand,” Mr Hamilton told ihe conference. He added a warning, “We’ve got to make the capitalist system work, otherwise it is going West. The capitalist system won’t work if it is going to be exploited. I{ you can run efficient businesses giving service, that is what the people want, but if private enterprise tries to exploit society we can’t stand for it. Private enterprise has got to prove that it is more efficient than Socialism. - You know your own business best. We know the political side. We trust you to give the best service.” The Labour • Party, Mr Hamilton said, wanted to bring everything into the clutches of the State. The National Party wanted private enterprise to show that it could do what was required better than the Government. “Labour says the State is the supreme authprity, and that everyone ■ has got to step into line,” he said. “We say that as long as private enterprise plays the game we should keep out, but you have to deliver the goods and show that sectional interests are not going to dominate ”

Business interests were sometimes inclined to try to “pass the buck” in a dispute, say between manufacturers and importers. Why could not those concerned settle - their own problem? Mr Hamilton asked. The more the Government was asked to arbitrate the more it had to interfere.

“If, having solved your own problem, you come to us and ask for legislative support we will be glad to give it, if it is not against the public interest or the interest of some other section of the community. If you want us to help you and consult you we will do it. We will show you whore our difficulty is, what we want to do, and if you can help to solve it without putting someone else offside we will be glad. “In a day or two Parliament will close and we will go to our masters to give an account of- our stewardship,” he continued, “then ;it is for the people to say what they want.” The issues before the electors were very grave. Probably never before had they held such possible consequences. “There are some who think that Labour should be in office for another term,” Mr Hamilton said. “Politically that might suit us, but it would be a dangerous course. We should be able to observe by the experience we have had where we are heading and what the policy of the present Government is likely to involve the country in in the near future.” The chairman of the conference committee of the campaign (Mr C. G. White), the campaign director (Mr J. D. McMillan), and Mr G. S. Crirftp also addressed the conference.