Mr. Nash Has Too Much Power

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1949, Page 5

Mr. Nash Has Too Much Power

Press Association )

(Per

WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. In the Budget debate in the Houso of Representatives, Mr J. T. Watts (St. Albans) when examining the differences between the Labour. and National Parties, said that the Labour delinition of socialist planning was the central. direction of economic activitv by an overriding authority while the National definition waS general foresight and willingness to look ahead. Mr Carr: We don't stand for centralisation at all. Mr Watts said the Labour* Government had failed to organise, deputise and supervise. The Minister of Finance was a classie example of failing to deputise. "Go into his room and he can't be seen for files- — files on his desk, on the floor, files everywliere," said Mr Watls. The trading community distrusted the present import licensing policy. Theie was a general belief that far too much power was vested in the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash. Nobody knew exactly from week to week what the Government 's import policy was. The Opposition had never suggested that all import controls could be removed at once. There must be some control over the total amount of overseas funds but the present policy could easily be improved on. There could be import control without import selection and :» great deal of the present administrative waste could be eliminated if an inde pendent Board of Trade were appointed.