POST-WAR PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 4

POST-WAR PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Manufacturers’ Views ADJUSTMENT OF “SET-UP” ADVOCATED “On the facts so far revealed by the Acting-Prime ■ Minister, Mr. Sullivan, of the operating machinery of the Organization for National Development, it is yet early to make a definite and detailed analysis of the proposal,” said Mr. lan Matheson, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, when commenting on the scheme from the manufacturers' point of view. “Nevertheless, as the mere announcement in itself snows a move toward tangible post-war plans, the manufacturing industry, along witu the rest of the community, receives it with much interest and regards the general principle as a step in the right direction, though it is clear that the /setup’ proposed must have some adjust* ment?’ While the manufacturers realized the necessity of a strong central organization to co-ordinate and synchronize such large post-war issues as demobilization, rehabilitation, and the conversion of the Dominion's war activity to that of peace, they saw too the vital necessity for the closest collaboration between the central organization—irrespective of that body’s nature —and the non-Governmentni mid producer and commercial interests involved so widely, said Mr. Matheson. How this liaison was to be effected was a mutter of the greatest importance. "It seems only logical that no Government would bring down a scheme so entirely watertight as to exclude from its considerations the very interests that constitute an integral part of the whole post-war problem,” Mr. Matheson declared. “On the other haud, it must ba realized that there is an imperative need for some strong and unbiased central organization charged with the responsibility of keeping a balance among all the various interests involved. This central authority, too, must bo responsible for the co-ordinated tapering-off of post-war economic controls, if we are to avoid it the years after the war the inflation ant turmoil we have sought to stem in the years of the war. “The immediate prqblom to be settled is one of perspective. Irrespective of the means to be employed, the paramount problem is the end to be achieved, which must be the post-war economic welfare of New Zealand. I hope that the ‘setup’ of the proposed organization can be adjusted and' provision made for it to have the advice and assistance which will ensure its decisions being soundly based on the interests of all sections of the Dominion.”