WARTIME CONTROLS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 230, 26 June 1944, Page 3

WARTIME CONTROLS

Measure Of Relaxation

Sought

The New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation has asked the Government to delegate certain trading functions to their normal channels, the president of the federation, Mr. I. AL Alatheson, has announced, Some war emergency measures, notably Government, purchasing, would appear to have largely outlived their usefulness, he said, and the progressive decontrol of industry and commercial life generally must lie one of the main issues before the Dominion from now on. “The Manufacturers'- Federation contends,” he said, “that the war has reached a stage when the re-deiegation of certain trade functions from the Government to normal commercial channels is possible, and. indeed, vitally necessary if eventual national loss is to be avoided. I will go so far as to say that.the progressive relaxation of trade control’is an essential prerequisite to national economic rehabilitation.

“Manufacturers are not pressing for a wholesale ‘washing-out’ of controls, nor are we nebulous to the extent of not specifying where we think certain controls could be removed. We consider that Government-to-Government purchases—where this course is not now absolutely dictated by overseas Governments — could and should be dispensed with. Without suggesting any interference with the progress of the war effort, we are conscious that the.,continuation of purchasing controls to the bitter end can 'be, and most certainly already appears to be, fraught with heavy national loss. “The Government bulk buying of raw materials means that heavy stocks of certain materials are constantly accumulated. There are indications that these accumulated stocks are already unbalanced as to types and qualities. “Private business is equipped with the experience and organization to make the best selection of the raw materials needed to produce the type and qualities for New Zealand’s requirements. The Government would be wise to make the fullest? and earliest possible use of this experience and organization by returning to private industry its pre-war rights and trading functions. “We therefore urge the return to private purchasing, thereby ensuring that certain inevitable loss at the end of the war will be as light as can be devised. If this is not done we are afraid that peace will find New Zealand holding heavy stocks of all types of merchandise, much of which will be unsuited for civilian consumption. We are also asking the Government to make available to manufacturers full details of its stocks held in New Zealand at the present time. Where ill-balance or possible obsolescence is now shown, then it is yet early enough to consider means of utilization—after the war will be too late to avert loss in this direction.”