TO ASSIST TRADE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 8

TO ASSIST TRADE

V —t—4 —— ~. ! ■ EXPERT AUTHORITY WITH POWERS. SUGGESTIONS OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE Recoirimendations for the. appointment of an axpert board to direct: and assist the industries and commerce of the' Dominion are made by the. Industries Committee of the House in the report.prei- ' sented to Parliament yesterday. Follow- . V. in? iswliat'tha committee suggests:— Your committee has met with an almost universal demand for the setting-up, • of a board .of industries arid commerce,' 1 which'shall'provide'Wv directive'ability for-.the national..organisation of our . industries in genoral. , ; ICcmniercial arid Industrial Development. The oonolusion of the war brings to the forefront the necessity for the immediate consideration of the most effective .methods of dealing with the great questions of commercial and industrial • .develop-". ; , _ ment.for it is (juite.'. certairi that New ' '' Zealand must make unprecedented efforts to deal with the'-whole question from: the national standpoint; indeed, tho State must in. tho future tako a closer interest in-the development, of industiy, and be prepared to actively assist. 'In this connection the committee desires to' I>oint out that up to the present little (if any) assistance has been given to secondary industries, whilo in the case of land-development generous encouragement has been afforded for many years past. . Setting up the Board. At the present time and for eomo years' several Ministers have been directing State, activities in the commercial fieT.d. •It is recommended that these duties should be concentrated in one Department. and under the direction of ono Minister. The Departments of Agriculture and of Industries and Commerce are at present worked as one, and in the opinion of your committed an alteration from this state of affairs is imperative. A separate Department of Industries _and Commerce should be set up, having extensivo pow- \ '.'era, much on this lines of the inter-State Commission of Australia, ■ excepting that the boafd 6honld bo directly under the control of a Minister of the Crown. By this means it is believed the necessary stimulus can lie given to existing and n«w industries which are so vital to our na: tional development. The board should consist of three /members of wide business experience, who should devote the whole of their time to the performance of their dutiei, and tho salaries shoutd Jin. such a? would attract tho best men in the Dominion. Extensive authority should be vested in the hoard, ono of ites important duties being to act as a tariff t*ard with power to make recommenda* tions. The. functions of the Board of Tradp. which has little or no power, should be taken over by >tho Board of Industries and Commerce. Powers to be Exercised. The,board should bo empowered to: (1) Engage in trade: ' (2) Investigate and control prices: (3) Prevent exploitation of the pub- > lie and suppress profiteering: ■. ' (4) Make advances to industrial and commercial concerns.: (5) Investigate trade conditions: (6) Prevent unfair methods of competition: i ■ (7) Report to tho Minister direct on all matters inquired into. The board should be'charged'with the duty of investigating from time to time matters affecting tho public interest, siich as— (1) The encouragement, improvement,'and extension of New Zealand industries and manufactures: (2) Markets outside New Zealand, and the opening-up of externa} trade generally: , •, r ' . (3) Wages and ebflial ! 'and'industrial s conditions: 1 if, ■ (4) Labour, employment, and unem- i plevment: (5) Other matters referred the ■ board by either House of Parliament, by resolution, for investigation.