WAR MEASURES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1939, Page 6

WAR MEASURES

STATE THINKING DEPARTMENT.

The bureaucracy has been suddenly invested with a power such as it has never before exercised in Britain, says the "Spectator." The nation admitted that it had to be so in war-time, but this does not mean that it will lightly acquiesce in avoidable errors and failures. The question is that of coordinating State activities to a wellconsidered end. avoiding the present frustration and sterilisation of indivividual effort and making the utmost possible use of available energy and talent. This planning work cannot be done unless the Government brings into its service men who have devoted their lives to the study of economics and the social services. The Government is endeavouring to adapt itself suddenly to the creation of a machine which in essence is Socialistic. A new edifice on this vast scale cannot be safely erected without scientific knowledge any more than a suspension bridge could be safely built without skilled engineers. In war, since we arc committeed to hazardous experiments, we cannot do without the brains. It is imperative that the Government should provide itself with a thinking department to consider its unparalled activities, with executive power to coordinate them and direct them to clearly-conveiced ends.