RATIONING' INDUSTRY AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 47, 20 November 1918, Page 9

RATIONING' INDUSTRY AFTER THE WAR

«— _■• CONTROL ONLY WHERE ■ . NECESSA-EY." The British Government recently decided to take immediate action on tho lines of the report of the committee appointed by the Minister of Reconstruction last year to consider the principles upon which, in the event of n shortage of the necessary supplies for industry after the war, such things-should be rationed, and to report upon the machinery requisite for the purpose. The committee, of which Sir Henry Birclionough was chairman, whilo. advising that' control should bo discontinued at as early a date as possible, and that in the meantime there should be the least possiblo interference with private enterprise, have made recommendations as to the principles, and machinery for allocation and priority after tlio war in cases where it is found to bo imperative. . They recommend that special consideration should be given to industries which provide a large, measure of employment and that importance should be attached primarily to industries connected with: (1) The production of food and raw materials; \2). the 'manufacture of machinery and equipment which are immediately' necessary for the industrial and transport re-, quireinents. of the country; (3) the manufacture of finished goods for export;' (I) the production of goods for home requirements of a. pressing nature. ' It, is. the intention of tho Government that post-war control and allocation of materials shall be applied only in cases where it is absolutely necessary. On the •assumption, however, that of certain commodities there will bo a shortage which will, rentier some form of control imperative, arrangements requiro to ho made for dealing with the matter. It is proposed that a small-Cabinet Committco on post-war priority shall be set up, consisting of. the President of tho Board of Trade, tho' Ministor of Labour, the Minister of Shipping, the Minister of Munitions, and the Minister of Reconstruction, with the same chairman as tho War Priorities Committee. This committco will,determine large questions of policy, and will lay down flic general principles upon which any allocation and priority shall proceed where necessary. This Cabinet Committee will be assisted by a Standing Council, composed of members 'of tho Departments ' chiefly concerned, together with persons representative of commerce, industry, and labour, and these two bodies will form the central machinery. The immediate duty of the Standing Council will be to consider ami draw up a scheme of post-war priority, following the general policy which may bo laid down by the Cabinet Committee; and to consider what detailed machinery should ho used for allocation, where necessary, in the transition period. Tho Standing Council will consult with the trade, organisation:* whose formal ion is being promoted by the Ministry of Labour, tho Board of Trade, and the' Ministry of Reconstruction, and will consider how far and in what way it may be possible to transfer the control at present exercised by the Government Departments to purely trade, organisations for post-war purposes. .