ORGANIZATION ON BROAD BASIS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 3

ORGANIZATION ON BROAD BASIS

National Development FURTHER OUTLINE OF SCHEME (Uy Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. May 8. The stiilemciil issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce raising objections to the Organization of National Development on the grounds Unit it was a ”.IQO per coni public service organization” had been based on a misunderstanding or tnisc interpretntion of the recent announcement of the formation of the organization, said tlie Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, today. "The statement which I made recently referring to combined committees of Government officials and other selected personnel indicated quite, clearly that combined committees of Government officers and representatives of outside organizations would be established to deal with various aspects of national development.” said Mr. Sullivan. ’'Several Ministers have already discussed the question of representation with various bodies concerned mid others will be doing so iu the very near future. Other important personnel will also be included on the committees. “To anyone who gives serious thought to Ihis important matter of post-war planning and development it will be apparent that the widest outlook and broadest possible basis is essential if our national development is to be reasonable, practical and successful. The brief outline which I gave the other evening covered mainly the Government side of the new organization. As I indicated then, this problem is obviously beyond the scope of any oiie Government department as at present constituted. “The first thing to do was to link together all those departments in any way concerned. The second step was to widen the scope and outlook of each department by setting up combined committees of Government officers and personnel specially selected from outside departments. There will be a number of these combined committees.

“For example, there will 'be a committee on construction and another on power development under the chairmanship of Mr. Semple, a committee on agricultural development under Mr. Roberts, a. rehabilitation and personnel committee (chairman, Major Skinner), a transport committee (chairman, Mr. O’Brien), , a tourist and publicity committee (chairman, Mr. Parry), an immigration and labour committee (chairman, Mr. Webb), and an imports and shipping committee (chairman, Mr. tNordmcyer). I myself will undertake the chairmanship of the committee on industrial development and commerce and distribution. Other committees may be set up from time to time to deal with- other matters as the organization develops.” “On all these committees there will be representation of appropriate societies and organizations which can make a contribution to the solution of particular problems, while on the various sub-eom-mittees which will be established by these combined committees from time to time to deal with specific aspects of the general problem there will be further opportunity to introduce technical and professional experience from outside sources. “In my prevous statement I dealt mainly with the aspect of the organization of national development which concerned the appointment of the central body, a specialized secretariat within the Prime Minister’s Department, whose function it will be to initiate, co-ordinate and analyse schemes and plans coming forward from all the combined committees. It will ensure that the various committees are aware of the proposals and plans of the other committees so that arrangements can 'be made accordingly. Thus the whole. et»ane will be interlocked and centralizes, nut will at the same time be based on the utmost utilization of the facilities ot all Government departments, together with the cooperative effort of all interested organizations able and prepared to help in this important matter.”