Economist Discusses Help To Poor Countries

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 20

Economist Discusses Help To Poor Countries

Modernising the economies of underdeveloped countries would be one of the greatest tasks the world had ever seen, the New Zealand-born economist. Sir Douglas Copland, said in Christchurch. Sir Douglas Copland has been appointed first director of the International Institute of Labour Studies and will gc to Geneva in May to take up hiSsjob. “I’m in New Zealand to talk about the institute with the Government,” he said. "We are appealing fee an endowment fund to give the institute a sound financial basis and all United Nations members are being asked to contribute.”

Already Germany had given 750.000 dollars, Holland 250,000 dollars and India—herself an underdeveloped country—loo,ooo dollars, he said.

He explained that the new organisation was a United Nations agency and affiliated to the International Labour Office.

"It will provide administrative training for people from the under-developed countries. This training will Cover all enterprise, both public and private, finance, science and so on.” Independence Sir Douglas Copland said one of the major changes in the international scene since the war had been emergence of underdeveloped countries to independent status. This meant increasing emphasis being given to the adaption of their ancient economies to modern techniques in a phase of economic enterprise. “This is now becoming the major preoccupation of the more advanced Western countries, and of the Communist bloc, itself undergoing a striking transformation. “Apart from the desire of the underdeveloped countries to modernise their economies, they have to meet the problem of an unprecedented increase in population.” He said this was in itself a product of modern scientific and medical research and improvement in health administration. Population World population was expected to double itself in about 40 years. "Most of the increase will take place in the underdeveloped countries, especially in Australia and New Zealand’s near neighbours in South and East Asia, already the most densely populated countries in the world. “This population increase, together with the desired rapid transformation of the economies of the underdeveloped countries, present them with a double problem, each of greater magnitude than anything they have experienced in the past. The

solution win depend upon many new and adventurous approaches to the fundamental issues involved. “Not the least of these will be the promotion of a much higher rate of economic growth than before and to the development of administrative techniques appropriate to the solution of the tasks ahead.”

Sir Douglas Copland said the problem was already being tackled on many fronts. These included the U.N. and its agencies, the technical aid programme, the Colombo Plan, the increasing range of guidance from the 1.L.0., President Kennedy's peace corps and the widening range of economic aid being given by the more advanced countries to the underdeveloped countries, he said.

“Those acquainted with the nature of the problem realise that what is being done, both in external aid and in the initial efforts of the underdeveloped countries, is not enough, if progress is to keep pace with the increasing pressures for rapid economic development. “Moreover, greater coordination of action by the contributing countries and an increasing sense of partnership between them and the recipient countries is required

if the position is to be met adequately." Sir Douglas Copland said it was against this background that the problems facing the new institute Should be considered. In developing the work of the institute it would be necessary to ensure adequate consideration being given to the promotion of an enduring partnership between the contributing and recipient countries. This would be in the common enterprise of advancing the economic efficiency and welfare of the people of the underdeveloped countries. Contributing countries should bear in mind that their own contributions would not be a net cost. “On the contrary, it should be regarded as a sound investment in the broadest sense of the term. “On the one hand it will promote economic growth in the world economy as a whole and stimulate the expansion of international trade. "This will add to the economic strength of the contributing countries. “On the other hand, it will assist in building a new and constructive partnership between the contributors and the recipients, replacing the colonial system that developed under 19th century capitalism in Western Europe.” he said.