CO-ORDINATED INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 2

CO-ORDINATED INDUSTRY

MERGING OF THE INDIVIDUAL NOT A PRESENT PROBLEM [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 4. The possibility of the Industrial Efficiency Bill leading to problems involving the independent existence of individual firms in pursuit of the Government’s prniciplo of co-ordination in industries, is not regarded by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Sullivan) as a matter for present consideration. Mr Sullivan, in an interview yesterday, made it clear that he was not ready to discuss this possibility, saying that it was one of the problems which would have to be dealt with by machinery to be set up under the Bill. “It is impossible for anyone to prophesy to what extent the same redundancy as, at present would _ exist under a co-ordinated system,” said Mr Sullivan. “You may have smaller units in competition with larger units unable to hold their own where they are attempting to give a full service and to handle all lines in industry, but I can conceive that under co-ordinated organisation in industry there would bo a useful part to be played by the smaller unit. It could devote itself to some special phase of industrial activity which, perhaps, it could do efficiently. I think it may be possible to find a useful place in the scheme of- things for the smaller units.” The Alinister added that he did not expect to have to settle disputes between larger and smaller firms. Such problems would be dealt with by agreement. A number of industries, including two or three of the largest, had over a number of months made representations to the Government asking for legislation along the lines of the Bill, with particular reference to co-ordina-tion.