THE POWER OF ORGANISATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 6

THE POWER OF ORGANISATION

OUR UNDEVELOPED WEALTH. Sir,—A country's wealth depends to a large extent upon the organisation of its resources. Now that tho war is over, now that every able-minded and ablebodied man is returning home, let every--0110 look to the welding of our resources for tho common good of the country. Competition has set down its campaign.* It has been preparing continuously. dfiring tho war for tho commercial war which would inevitably follow in its wake. Now tho time has come. Cut-throat competition is beginning to make itself known, and many will say "Thank God for that!" But after all, is it such a blessing? Cheap goods— ■ goods that are flouted in front of more exponsive but reliable goods, are the result of cheaper labour. It necessarily follows that when the market value of goods is reduced wages will accordingly come down. The exploitation that is goiug 011 is in itself keeping prices high, but that is an abnormal state of affairs which cannot last without causing a grave crisis in tho country. • The whole question to consider is whether the country cannot organise its resources and produce a finished article that is reliable,. a standardised article . ■that can compete with imports. Stan- " dnrdisation will eliminate many of the labour questions. It will cause equalisation of wages for specific work; it will place production 011 such a sound foot* that all the resources wasted in competition will be available for improvements and closer co-ordination and cooperation; it means that the scientific application of standardised methods into every business, every profession in the country, will mean efficiency and a tremendous leap ahead in the progress and possibilities of the country. The war showed that efficient organisation of the country's resources was essential, nnd the result was' a creditable t>erforniance. Standardisation proved the most effective manner in which production and output could' be suecassfnlly maintained. Why should this method not be continued, and even improved upon as time:goes b^? Wealth is divided into three classifications. First, there is "natural" wealth: second, "productive and distributive wealth, and third, "consumable" wealth. The wealth of this country lies chiefly in . its "natural" wealth, so far praotically undeveloped. It is for the pioneers ■ of commerce to battle with nature for . tliQ hidden wealth that lies ill the hills, in the streams, in the trees that rise up in her virgin forests. It is for the. factory and tlie office to turn the output to commercial value in tho shape of production and distribution. The scheme for harnessing up the rivers is a step in the right direction. The result is going to be beyond conception. The power derived from the rivers is going to provide'energy'for a million different things. This is only one ' step in the right direction. What about the oil, the minerals and the hundred other industries that are lyins dormant? Where are the pioneers to harness up these possibilities with the-wealth of the ' country? This country can go ahead even as America has gone ahead if organisation is used as tho key to its future; if standardisation is used as the incentive to better equipment and more capable industry. There ore minerals hidden away in the hills that have a huge _ marketable value. Why are they'left in'their un- | developed state, and not turned to. com- ' mercial use? If the country can raise millions for the conquest of an outside, foe. can it not raise sufficient wealth to provide for its internal development? It is time that the progressive spirit roused itself to action. It is time that those responsible for the government and the welfare of the country woke to the fact that other countries are running ' awav with commercial enterprises, and New Zealand is being left behind in the . race for commercial supremacy. ' r "Wake 'yourself! Shake yourself! 5 Do!" is the title of a little book by an American author. The spirit of that 5 book; the progressive impulse that runs through its pages fire" the reader with 3 a wish to get ahead. Get-ahead-ism is 1 the ruling instinct in American life; the wish to. find out things, that will prove ] beneficial to the efficiency and progress : of the country. If this 'spirit wore sown : in the minds of the young people of New J Zealand, if they were thrilled with the ( tremendous possibilities that lay before 1 them of the wealth that lay dormant in their own country, waiting for the , enterprising man to harness and turn to commercial value the result would be of enormous value to the country, both financially and morally. Too little attention seems to be given to demonstrating the possibilities of tins country; it should be instilled 111 the a minds'of every schoolboy, every youth I who is training for commerce, that this a country in which he lives is to be the [• -countrv of the future, and.it is for him . to work in that direction. The huge * possibilities should be outhned to him » and demonstrated by experts to imbue t hint with enthusiasm, and a desire to t carry out its development. The ideal communjty is based on the 0 principle of working for 0. common 1 Rood, i.e., the good of the couiniuuitj e itself. Every person should work for a this result. It is tho spirit that eveiy giit-ahead person strives for, and when ■ e once obtained, nothing can stop him. s Imagine the result if everyone worked e with this idea-the idea of doing his bitto better the community as a whole. - There's 110 reason why this should liot j bo the case in this country; it is the s spirit that thrills the American race to 1- do ,better things. Yes, ,tliey hw habit of talking about what they do, but t perhaps they have a right to do so it s e only their national manner of expressms, 1 appreciation of their country s system 1 and get-ahead ideas and ideals. If this - country would follow Americas example 1 of working for Ijie country s good, and r not the selfish individual only, a great • step would be made in its progress. ) Let those responsible for the welfare 1 of the country, i.e., every single liidivis dual, club their resources and ability into one huge organisation. No matter what vou call .it—a get-ahead club" or a as long as the spirit of progress is there, tho wish to get ahead, this country will get along with leaps and bounds. Its i'i us. Our country has the natural resources to enable us to carry out our policy.—l am, etc., p EO GRESS.