STATE CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20063, 9 October 1939, Page 2

STATE CONTROL

MARKETING SCHEME WIDE DISSATISFACTION A SOCIALISTIC MOVE FEAR OF PERMANENCY Strong dissatisfaction with the general trend of the Marketing Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament was expressed by representative business men, reports the Auckland Herald. Detailed comment was generally withheld pending opportunity to study the intended legislation, but there was unanimity in the protest at the Government’s failure to give an undertaking that control would cease after the end of of the war. The general view was that there was no justification for the introduction of State socialism at a time when the public should not be torn by political dissension. Continuing With Politics “Is this a war measure or a socialist move?” asked Mr. J. A. C. Allum, president of the Auckland Employers’ Association. “In other words, are we .jpeing fooled? Every sensible person wants the Allies to Avin the war, but that doesn’t' mean to say that we should lose our liberty in the process. It seems clear that our Government is intent on continuing with politics, whereas what the country wants is that we should concentrate on helping to win the war. How can people feel enthusiastic about submitting to inconveniences when they feel the Government is imposing some of these to suits its political purposes.” Mr. Allum continued that the Government was imposing restrictions far beyond what was considered necessary in Britain, where the effects of the war would be felt much more than in New Zealand. The Government should show that the full powers it was assuming for the purchase and disposal of goods was a necessary war measure. In the circumstances, it seemed extraordinary to go beyond what is being done in Britain. “There is far ttoo much loose talk about high profits,” added Mr. Allum. "What we would like to know is when prices fall is the Government going to forbid us to buy at these lower prices until we have cleared our stocks at high values?” Views of Manufacturers Mr. H. W. Shove, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, said manufacturers would generally approve of strong measures that would help towards winning the war. In view of the past record of Government administration, as shown by its failure over the import control regulations, it was very doubtful, however, whether the present proposals would assist towards its objective. In other British countries, widJ powers had been taken, but in most instances the practical assistance and advice of the business community had been sought and used by the Governments concerned. During a war, everything should move with the greatest efficiency, and the present was clearly not the time for experimenting with marketing theories. “It is not generally known that the Government has failed in its promises to manufacturers that it would provide sufficient overseas funds for materials for industry,” said Mr. Shove. “In the ordinary course, criticism on this aspect would have been withheld because of the state of war, but had it not been for the action of the trading banks, which in many cases have come to the assistance of manufacturers, and also the generous assistance given by private enterprise in different parts of the world, d great number of factories in Auckland and also throughout New Zealand would now either be closed or be working with short staffs. Prices for Exports, “The Government can apparently find no way out of the situation beyond unofficial suggestions to importers who are short of overseas credits that they should buy exchange on the ‘black’ market. It is also felt by a large number of persons that - the Government has committed itself to a policy of fixed prices for exports, and has failed to take into account the effects of the general risq in world prices for our imports. In view of their intimate knowledge of the situation created by the administration during recent months, manufacturers feel justified in expressing grave doubts as to the wisdom of the further extension of State control in the present crisis.’’