COSTS & PRICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 August 1940, Page 4

COSTS & PRICES

PROBLEM OF EXPANDING PRODUCTION

CONFERENCE TO MEET. ANNOUNCEMENT BY PREMIER. ' (By Telegraph—Brass Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The possibility of stabilising costs, wages and prices in New Zealand will be discussed at a representative conference to be held in Wellington either at the end of this week or at the beginning of next. This was announced yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who said that the conference would be of considerable importance to all sections of the community.

The Prime Minister explained that the proposed conference was the outcome of a suggestion he had made to a deputation from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which last week discussed with him the effect on the farming industry of the general order granting a 5 per cent increase in award wages. He had expressed the opinion that it would be advisable if a conference of interested parties could be held to survey the general economic position of the country under war conditions, with a view to stabilising costs, wages, and prices, and to discuss the expansion of production generally. The conference, he had suggested, should include representatives of the Government, Farmers’ Union, Federation of Labour and Manufacturers' Federation. Formal invitation had yet to be issued, but the Farmers’ Union and the Federation of Labour had already expressed their willingness to attend such a conference, which would, therefore, bo held as soon as possible.