AFTER THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1843, 22 June 1918, Page 3

AFTER THE WAR.

HOW WILL NEW ZEALAND

FARE?

WASTE LESS, PRODUCE MORE,

A thoughtful estimate of'post* war conditions formed an important part of Mr Harold Beauchamp’s address at the annual meeting f| f shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, at Wellington yesterday. “A critical, position,” he said “is hound to exist after the war, and many proposals are being put forward for meeting the situation. Two conditions are essential ■ — strict economy, and greater industry and production. Everyone can,assist in obtaining the first by exercising strict economy in living,- and by the avoidance of luxury. We must have greater production in New Zealand; the output of our primary products must be expanded; and the efforts of all should he concentrated on the attainment of that end. We must not delude ourselves into a false security by catchphrases, the inventions of visionaries. A young nation has no use for dreams. After the war, the prices of our produce must fall, because our customers will be impoverished, and will not have tho purchasing power. There will continue to bo a demand for our meat, blitter, cheese, and other products, but not at the prices of to-day.” THE SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Referring to the secondary industries, Mr Beauchamp supported a current argument that unprofitable and out-of-date methods must be, eliminated. “Specialisation, standardisation, and combination will unquestionably be necessary,” he said. “There are indications that the commercial war which is predicted to follow the present ghastly struggle will be a contest between combinations of national importance, and therefore, it may be, a facsimile of the present war of nation against nation. These combinations will not be merely on the base of priceagreements, or on monopolistic lines, but co-operative, and designed to cheapen production while conserving quality. Several huge combinations have already been arranged, and apparently with official sanction.”

AN EDUCATIONAL BUREAU,

Mr Beauchamp gave an opinion that “mischievous statements”- —not contradicted because “there has been no organisation seized with the duty of controverting them” —have caused friction between employers and workers. Therefore he advocated the establishment of a Bureau of industry and Commerce, which should have for its main object the refutation of unfair statemcnls, the explanation of illogical theories, the education of the workers into an appreciation of their rights and duties, and the establishment of confidence and respect between those who paid (he wages and found the capital for industry and those who received (lie wages and worked at (he industry.

now TO RAISE BEAL TRACER

“(let the workmen,” bo eouiimted, “to understand that high wages are caused by increased production, that increased produet ion tends to cheapen goods and so lowers the cost of living. The workers cannot greatly nnl permanently improve their position except by an increase in the elfuieuey and output of their labour. Trade Euious have directly and indirectly encouraged the ‘go slow’ policy, first by insistence on all their members being paid a, minimum wage irrespective of efticieuey, and by the mistaken idea ofdiscouraging and deterring others from doing a reasonable maximum

amount of work. The. slowest and least skilled workers have been allowed, to set the pace, and also the standard. This has been under the impression that it is injurious d their class to do as much work as possible. Proof of the nnsoundness of such principles should he given to the workers, who are, after all, reasonable human beings, eager and anxious to improve their condition. An organisation such as suggested that would undertake this educative work would be doing the community eminent service.”