EFFICIENCY ACT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 11

EFFICIENCY ACT

“VICIOUS PRINCIPLES” THREATS TO BUSINESS CRITICISM BV MR. ALG IE “There arc very few statut.es in the law of this country that are so abundantly stocked with vicious principles as the Industrial Efficiency Act, and the amazing thing is that this piece of legislation has attracted so little attention and so small an amount of public criticism,” said Mr. R. M. Algie in an address to the Auckland Pemvomen'-s Club. “Most people are very well aware that in the forefront of Labour policy stands the oft-quoted objective of the socialisation of the means of production. distribution and exchange," Mr. Algie stated, “and there are many who think that this great objective will at some time in the future form the basis of a proposal to be laid before Parliament. These good people think also that when an. Act for the socialisation of Industry comes before the House they will then have an ample opportunity of deciding for or against the establishment of complete State Socialism. Introduction of Socialism “What they fail to realise is that Socialism is being introduced by steady and successive stages. The process is going on all the time and the Industrial Efficiency Act is just one other example of the many different but cleverly thought-out methods.” With its introduction of a further instalment of the licensing principle, the Act dealt another blow at the very roots of morale in business, Mr. Algie said, and cleared the ground for the growth of a new crop cf troubles, among which corruption might not be the least conspicuous. The Bureau of Industries could pry into the books, documents, records and affairs generally of every business in the Dominion. At any time when the Minister lelt inclined, he could “direct” the bureau to prepare a plan for the organisation of an industry or some branch of it. Government’s Wide Powers If a bare majority of the principals of the businesses , affected were prepared to give it their approval, the Governor-General could bring the plan into immediate operation. Mr. Algie added. The minority should be offered upon the altar of sacrifice--to socialistic principle. From that time onward they would have to conduct their businesses, not according to the dictates of their own judgment and experience, but pursuant to rules laid down for them by someone else.

The Minister, as representative of a political party with a policy of its own to carry out, could under the Act declare at any time that any given industry, trade or profession -should thenceforward toe carried on only under license, Mr. Algie said. Those already in the industry would have to seek permission to continue to function. Those desirous of starting out on their own would find that they could not even begin unless and until the necessary license had been secured.