WAR PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1941, Page 5

WAR PRODUCTION

ANOTHER CONFERENCE LN PROJECT CREATION OF ECONOMIC COUNCIL. DISCUSSED BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph— Press Association.,* WELLINGTON. This Day. 1 he advisability of appointing an Economic Council or sonic such organisation to survey, give advice on. and to some extent guide the productive and industrial activities of the Dominion during the war period was discussed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Eraser, on Saturday. He suggested that in this way it. should be possible still further to increase the efficiency of the country's war effort. ‘This matter." he said, “has engaged my attention for some little time and during the past week I have mentioned the matter to my colleagues in the Government and the War Cabinet. I have also brought the question to the notice of the members of the Parliamentary Labour Party at the caucus meeting during the present week. I hope to discuss the project with representatives of the Federation of Labour. representing the trade unions, and the Employers’ Federation, as well as with others interested during next week. I mentioned the proposal incidentally to a representative deputation of manufacturers who waited on the Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, and myself on Friday. "The Government propably in the near future, may call a conference similar to the Economic Stabilisation* Conference held in September and! Octobr of last year, with a view to! obtaining the support of all concerned for a truly national co-operative effort in the directing of which the! Government, Parliament, and employers’ and workers' organisations representing all branches of industrial activity. primary and secondary, will participate. “Possible developments in various fields of war which may detrimentally affect New Zealand shipping and. consequently, our exports and imports, and through these cur whole national life, may and probably will make inevitable economic difficulties and sac l rifices. “If New Zealand is to emerge from such trials with its economic and social standards intact or recoverable, there must be organisation, co-operation, and good will among all the people of the country, particularly among those directly engaged in industrial activities. "As a matter of fact, New Zealand’s war effort which today embodies practically the work of everybody performing useful service, calls urgently for such organisation, cooperation and goodwill. The many and complex problems affecting workers, including the shortage of skilled labour as well as materials. demands greater co-operation and. if need bo. control: but to be thoroughly efficient that control should, if possible. be self-accepted and self-operat-ed. How this can be best achieved, whether by a thoroughly representative Economic Council or otherwise would be the main and most important business of the conference when called.” URGENT NEEDS STRESSED BY MR COATES. CALL FOR SACRIFICE & EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. February 21. The establishment of a council representing farming, industrial, and labour interests to guide the people! of Now Zealand towards a greater warj effort in general and particularly | greater production was advocated by! the Rt. Hon. J. G Coates, a member of the War Cabinet, in an address at a meeting held in the Town Hall tonight, 'fhe meeting was convened privately and comprised a representative attend-! anco of business men and other citi-i zens. Mr Coates said he had been speakingj to the Prime Minister only this morning and he thought Mr Fraser agreed that there should be some genera! directorship a council representing various interests to guide citizens generally to the best methods of increasing production and stimulating the war effort Such a council he considered. should be not only consultative but should possess certain execu- * live powers as well “This is a war to the knife, demand-1 ing fortitude, sacrifice, and the effort of each of us. as well as good will andi comradeship in th- common cause, j* and complete understanding of th-* dif-l flculties “ Mr ("oates said “We cannut keep up the high standard we havt . had and at the same tur.e give a IDO; ' per cent war effort We cannot do it,!' and it is no good M.vniic trying !<>* i promise it. It means sacrifice and ef-i fort, anil Mime of our earnings and** s.ivings going to the war effort ’ Mr Coates said lie had heard i-m-|i phasised the need for a proper stalls-'< tiea! survey in industry That wad actually in pt-ogre-s The future might i mean changes in industry with some! n.-n-'•*■'eiitial industries being div< :*efii to ' t '.a I j r. -din ' ion