POST-WAR ECONOMY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 199, 20 May 1944, Page 6

POST-WAR ECONOMY

Rehabilitation Of Business RELEASE OF CONTROLS The view that successful post-war reconstruction must he dependent on the early and substantial freeing of controls when hostilities cease, was expressed at this week’s meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce by the president, Mr. F. Wilson, when discussing post-war economy. lie said that post-war reconstruction not only involved service personnel who were New Zealand s first consideration, but also civilian workers in war industries, and to some degree rehabilitation of business. To enable business to provide the necessary intake of rehabilitated personnel.much advance organization and planning were necessary. “It is essential to know the framework within which reconstruction will function,” said Mr. Wilson, “and it is therefore necessary that, the Government should indicate its general policy so that everyone can formulate plans to ensure his appropriate contribution to the national effort. In view of this, two recent announcements with regard to the Government’s post-war proposals which..:, have been made by the acting-Priine Minister, Mr. Sullivan, are of considerable interest and importance, one dealing with post-war reconstruction the other concerninj! the removal of wartime controls. “With regard to post-war reconstruction, we now understand the organization of national development will, in effect, comprise committees consisting of both Government' officers and representatives of outside organizations and, providing full opportunity is taken to establish the closest collaboration with the various and very wide interests involved, this development will be welcome and should give valuable help in the handling of this our very great post-war problems. “The successful planning of post-war reconstruction, however, must be dependent on the early and substantial fi-eeimf of controls when hostilities cease. I his not only applies to wartime controls, but also to other measures introduced by the Government before the war, such as import control. Unfortunately, the information released to date on this vital question by the acting-Prirae Minister is disappointingly meagre, mid unless and until the Government define more specifically what it really means by emergency controls aa. distinct from permanent policy measures any practical post-war planning, either sectional or national, will) not be possible. “The transition from war to peacetime economy will be a problem of first magnitude/ It will call for the active cooperation of all, and must likewise enibrace all sections of the community, both employer and employee. Unknown and unpredictable factors will be introduced, some political, some industrial, others financial and economic, and the extent to which the existing measures of control are to be maintained or freed in our nost-war economy must have a vital bearing on the Dominion’s future life and development.” . Mr. N. S. Hunt said that a preliminary to the tremendous task of rehabilitation and reconstruction was to know the type of social economy under which the country was to function in the post-war years. “The average business man wants to know whether he is to be allowed to expand or ■whether he is going to suffer further restrictions. oven to the point of being wiped out,” he snid. “If the present Government continues in office, the indications are that we may expect more and more control.”