PACIFIC SOCIALISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 13

PACIFIC SOCIALISTS

NEW ZEALAND M.P. EXPLAINS

INITIATIVE AT BANFF

United Press Association—By Electric TeUerapli—Copyright. BANFF, August 24. At the Institute of Pacific Relations Conference steps were taken to organise a new international group of Socialists iii countries having interests in the Pacific area. The initiative in forming the new group was taken by Lord Snell, a member of the British group attending the conference, in association with Mr. Walter JN'ash, ALP., leader of the New Zealand group. Mr. Nash explained that an effort would be made to interest leading Socialists in every country having contacts with the Pacific area with a view to exchanging information. He said that valuable work could be done for humanity, and through such interchange and Labour organisations the world would benefit. Whether a more formal organisation would be effected later Mr. Nash could not say, although an effort would bo made in that direction. Mr. Nash also indicated that the new group would vigorously oppose Bolshevism, Communism, and the more rabid forms of modern Socialism. It was denned as a sane, moderate, and constructive Socialist movement. A New Zealand scheme of planned and licensed exports as a proposed model remedy for international exports and imports throughout the world was discussed. The plan contemplates the exchange of products among the nations on the quota system. The issue precipitated a debate between those who argued that the world must accept planned economy or deteriorate and those who saw difficulties in the proposal. Supporters of the plan conceded that they were conscious of the dai»ger that large-scale planning would lead to monopolistic control, but urged that Governments could prevent such control by pressing too heavily upon the consumer. Opponents argued that export and import quotas in highly industrialised countries, where there was a wide variety, would lead Governments into moro trouble than they had on their hands already. The adjournment came with a discussion going on as' to the probability of great international cartels offering the way for controlled production and export without leaning too heavily upon the Government arm. Tho New Zealand plan received a substantial measure of support from United States members.