BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 15, 12 October 1917, Page 7

BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR

RECONSTRUCTION AND THE PARIS RESOLUTIONS. Tho Business Committee of tho British Empire Producers' Organisation, which which represents agricultural and nianufacting industries in every part ot the Empire, recently issued the following statement:— . Public attention is drawn to the coincidence of the introduction of a Bill to establish a British Ministry of .Reconstruction, and tho declaration o;' the new German Chancellor that Germany s terms will not permit her enemies to develop mi economic offensive alliance, in tho words of the Bill, the duty ot the Minister of Reconstruction will be to promote "the work of organisation «nd development after the termination ot tho present war." and the Home secretary announced that the duties would embrace such matters as commercial and industrial policy, the development of national and Imperial resources, the maintenance of new industries, the supply of raw material, the conservation of coal, and an inventory of the mineral resources ot the Empire,"besides demobilisation, housing, education-showing, in the words of Sir George Cave, "how tremendous a field is taken for inquiry and work for a Minister of this kind." ■ . The Business Cominitteo of the British Empire Producers' Organisation resolve: (1) That it is imperative that his Ma-

iesty's Government shall, without further delay, take the steps necessary to Rive effect to the resolutions of tho Fans Economic Conference, June, 1916, and.to the declaration of adherence to the principals embodied in those resolutions and the policy of Imperial preference announced by the Imperial War Cabinet and Conference in March, 1917. (2) That the establishment of the proposed Ministry in the manner contemplated must involve delay and uncertainty, which will seriously endanger tho rehabilitation and development of industry and production throughout the British Empire. This will incroase the present feeling of anxiety and insecurity in the Empire and allied countries as to whether His Majesty's Government intends to carry out the above policy. (3) That, as it appears that our enemies stand in groat fear of our policy of economic reorganisation, this is in itself a sound reason for its vigorous develop- • luent. '