Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1941. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1941. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

THOUGHTFUL people, looking at the. position from various angles, no doubt will be able to agree that New Zealand, in face of the demands of the war, has not yet achieved an economic effort which will compare as a whole with, foi example, its organisation of fighting forces, much less with the achievements of these forces in war service. As in all other parts of the Empire, self-respect demands that we should do everything we can. economically as well as in other ways, io help in winning the war. Few will be prepared to deny, however, that in some branches of production we are capable ol doing considerably more than wo have done yet.

In these circumstances a good deal of interest no doubt will have been awakened by the suggestions made recently by the Prime -Minister, Mr. Fraser, ami by Mr. Coates, in his cajuicity as a member of the War Cabinet, that an economic council or some such organisation should be established “to survey, give advice on. and to some extent guide the productive and industrial activities of the Dominion during the war period.

The words just quoted are those of the Prime Minister, In advancing virtually the same proposal, Mr.-Coates suggested that the function of the (proposed council would be “to guide the people of New Zealand towards a greater war ellort in general and particularly greater production."

As to the method by which the organisation called lor is to be brought into existence, tin 1 Premier said that the Government probably in the near future may call a conference similar Io the Economic Stabilisation Conference held in September and October 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.’’

To this, one metropolitan newspaper has objected that all the preparatory work that a conference need do or can do has already been done (by the Economic Stabilisation Conference) and that it remains only to call upon a panel of practical and experienced men to formulate ami carry out a plan ol economic co-operation. These contentions betray a certain confusion ol thought and overlook the difference between economic dictation and economic eo-operat ion. \\ ithoiit goimz into all the de’ails of a large and complex question, it should be fairly obvious flint there is no possibility of imposing on the people ol this country mamlatorily a cut ami dried plan of economic organisation. Il should be possible, however, by co-operative methods to bring about a progressive, perhaps a rapidly progressive, improvement in economic organisation. We have an excellent lead and guide to what is or should be practicable in this country in what has hcen accomplished in Great Britain. In the stress of an unexampled war emergency, the British (lovernnient has been clothed with virtually unlimited powers over industry ami e\<-ry aspect <>t economic life, but the British Minister of Labour (Air. Ernest Bevin has stated that much of the revolutionary reorganisation am! adaptation of British industry brought about under his supervision has been effected by voluntary agreement between the parlies concerned and with little use of the drastic mandatory powers that might be invoked were it necessary. Whether there is or is not io be atiotm-r conference as a preliminary to the constitution of an economic council, it is probably on lines broadly similar Io those that have been ami are being followed in Britain that we may proceed most h..|»fully in this country to develop the economic organisation ami eifort that .arc needed to meet worthily ami <•!! leient ly the demands made by the war. There is need not only oi wise gtiid jug and planning' at the centre. hut of a readiness on the part of all engaged in industry and economic service, employers an i workers alike, to make thmr full contribution the im-rrnm,, j production that will help their country ami the limp.re to achieve victory ami at the same time will sei limits Io the • to which living standards .are being and will l*e h>'' red m v, ar condit ions. Mr. Coates said in addressing Inni.srh to lim <p ■"■' -m We cannot keep up the high standard we have mid ;m<! at me same time give a hundred per cent. war • rm-i.jis .sacrifice amt effort, and .some of ->i:r runur.i!; and y. n.,the war eifort. This, of course, is true, but it is also :rm-. amt permap- mom- io the point, that by using <.,;r product i'. e cnermes to greater ami more purposeful eitecl tfmti ivin -ii-h mr-m feasible in days of peace we may at om-e cum rm- a i d < rmr;s h.-n our war v<»n’ ribtit ion ami make less M‘V<rc ' I m ’ m-j. < would be the inroads tin- war inevitably must imo..- «m .-w siandards of living In imntempl.it me a <• io y a prosper! ificl'c is no mwil io par lop;; Lows ,|l>- a' ■ I ■■ !■> V.'hidi ..111- li’.ire st.-iidank . !• <1 ■ 'iti'-ii !'■ r t n ■< 1 ' . T‘ae-e V. ,11 1..- . . a "ss t . . ;t •'[ iV [ I ie.. V, e .-I'-* p!'-’! >a !’•*. 1 U- I '..1l .11 .! UH! m* ipU:'!mc ’.a. nj J■ n ■' effor’s of the meinbers ol our hghuug services.