TO WIN THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 10

TO WIN THE WAR

BUSINESS MEN'S PART

CO-OPERATION WITH THE STATE

7 The part which chambers of commerce should play in the public and commercial life of New Zealand, particularly, in war conditions, was clearly set.out by Mr. M. S. Myers, of Dunedin, in his presidential address to the annual conference pf the Associated Chambers of Commerce at Wellington today. While the right of constructive criticism should be retained by all sections of the community, he said, the job for today was primarily to win "the war, and with that end iri view, he appealed to business men to consider national problems before those of party or sectional interest, and to assist the Government in every possible way with their, advice arid efforts for the advancement of the nation's cause. *

In a general review -of New Zealand's economy under war conditions the president spoke frankly .upon the relationship between the Government and the commercial community, and dealt also with the rising cost of living.

. Qpinions'may differ strongly, on the question of how far the.State should go in the assumption of powers, he said, but, under war conditions, the trend generally was inescapably towards closer. State control of economic activities. In New Zealand, the subject of State control of, and regulations governing, business had become considerably more complex because of the fact that many of the' difficulties now surrounding the conduct of business were due not to the war, but to circumstances arising prior to the, war. ' The whole, question was very difficult. Somebody had, for instance, to decide where our troops would have to fight. The power to make that de r cision and the duty "to make it rested with the Government. ... "We must remember," the president went on, "that war has now become of such a quality that the fighting irien are but part of a nation's defence. The grower-of food, the makers of products in factories, the maintenance- of financial stability, and the willingness of all non-combatants to accept financial, sacrifices are all factors of the greatest importance in the conduct of war. "I do not want it to, be understood that J am advocating the stifling of discussion which is aimed at ascertaining- and implementing - the best methods to achieve the common object of victory. On the contrary, constructive .criticism is of the greatest, benefit to those who are criticised. It is only mean, contemptible, negative, or destructive criticism that is to be condemned. What I know ~you want to gain recognition for is the fairness and the yahie of constructive criticism that, comes into the former category." THE STATE AND BUSINESS. After dealing with the general part which chambers of commerce played in the life of a nation, the president pointed out that the effect of the Continental system. was tor make the chambers of commerce there . semidepartments of State. "This fact," he added, ."gives rise to some reflection, in. that 7State intervention .in .the affairs of. private enterprise, particularly in a.time, of war, might be mbre 'easily ■'borne, and have less unfavourable repercussions nationally, were it not for the lack of business ? knowledge of public officers concerned with administration in many. . cases, and their failure'to understand what appear to the business man to be simple propositions. "I say that in no carping spirit of criticism of conscientious public servants, because, by the nature of things, just as the average business man, by his training, cannot be expected to be well versed in political science, so the average public officer, by his training, cannot be expected to be well versed in the conduct of business.

V"What is the remedy? Surely.it lies in close consultation .and collaboration between the public authorities on the one hand and qualified private interests on the other. The chambers of commerce and similar trade organisations. do not necessarily have to be welded into the State administrative machine as sub-departmerits of State on the Continental model; while retaining their autonomy they could at the same time be utilised in an organised and regular manner for consultative and advisory purposes. Such an intelligent fusing of the ability and knowledge that is available in the country, official'and private, for the benefit of the whole of the country and its cause, should, if entered into in a spirit of natiorial obligation, do as much to eradicate the attitude of the business concern which , eschews all politico-economic subjects except those that directly benefit itself as it would do to offset the near-chaos that can be caused in practical matters by the over-zealous and unskilled political scientist

"I am strongly hopeful that such a common-sense arrangement is not

NOT PARTY POLITICAL.

beyond the bounds of early-realisation, particularly when I see how the Government has already set up a number of.specialised, committees to deal with labour and allied questions in relation to war conditions.

./ '.'ln times of peace, chambers of commence in New Zealand have perhaps been ' misunderstood ' upon - the question -of politics.:. For many years -now our Dominion has been in the forefront iof those countries that are prepared to inaugurate experimental legislation aimed at, accelerating what would perhaps otherwise be a less rapid improvement in the conditions and standards of life of its people. In this process, the soundness of which history will better be able to judge thari we can today, one Government after another has taken steps and measures that have, encroached . increasingly upon what has been-deemed to be the interests of business and trade.

'~ "Commercial people, desirous of; making protests at various times, have naturally used the medium which their chambers of commerce exist to provide. This particular section of chamber of commerce work, however, has not justified anyone in holding the view that chambers of commerce are party, politK cai.

"This much could have been stressed again this year even though peace had still reigned. Now, however, we are at war, and there is but one real test for all. The game is to win the war, and the test is 'do we keep our eye on the ball?' The question all ,must ask of themselves (whether .Government or private citizens) is 'does this or that contribute to winning the war'

"This must clearly be the attitude of all chambers of commerce. In this light, measures taken and results attained cannot be judged by microscopic inspection of the ***, threads -. in trie tapestry—its broad lines, its inspiration must be attained quickly, and not by years of . careful development. This calls for speed, and .< speed calls for efficiency. To gain the latter those en-, gaged in business sincerely desire to assist; viewpoints vary. only as . to the best methods to be adopted.

; "Hand and brain workers' must cooperate. To accomplish this co-opera-tion to the maximum, requires education arid an understanding by each man and .woman of the objective of the State and the duty that falls upon each individual. , Chambers of commerce can do "much to help,' ahd I am. sure; it is your, desire that the Government make greater use- of the advice and help that trade and industrial groups can give. }_ "In the presence of a.common enemy we must recognise that we sit at a common table with all people as defenders. This, fact, not perhaps expressed exactly in this way, is doubtless the reason underlying regulations such as those, for instance, which govern the control, of prices, and upon, which representations from the point of view of 'sound business' have been made to the Government.

CONTROL OF CONSUMPTION,

"Apart from the' accepted ■ business point of view on replacement values,, there are in the field •of political economy those who believe that if consumption in war must.be curtailed, then the best adjustments in consumption can x be' obtained by increasing price levels of the commodities in whi/Dh it is desired to reduce consumption by simply allowing prices to rise. "The complete adoption of planned increasing of prices in the latter case —or even by its happening in an unplanned way in the •■ former casemeans that we would inevitably shortly enter a vicious circle of constant, read] ustment of wages, because all in the community must live. "It is as well to realise, this, political and social side of the matter, because sharply rising prices simply mean that the poorer sections of the community would pay in going short or doing without/while those better off would have paid in price.

"The Associated Chambers of Commerce have already put it ■on record that 'all reputable people will join heartily with the Government in its desire to prevent anyone from seizing an opportunity that he may see in the war to enrich himself at "the expense of -the public, and that the whole question is really one of de-