ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1941, Page 4

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

STABILISATION OF PRICES URGED BY LABOUR CONFERENCE. FUTURE ECONOMIC POLICY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A decision that the Government be urged to provide for stabilisation of present prices of essential services and commodities, together with present rates of wages and salaries, was made by the New Zealand Labour Party at its annual conference in Wellington last night. The decision was made unanimously after the conference had considered for five hours and a half New Zealand’s present economic position and future economic policy. It was embodied in joint recommendations. arising out of the report of the Economic Stabilisation Conference of 1940, and presented by the national executive of the New Zealand Labour

Party and the national executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. With a view to implementing this policy the national executives of the Labour Party and the Federation ol Labour submitted the following recommendations: —-“After a thorough and complete examination of the economic position of the Dominion occasioned by the war, and in particular the shortage of shipping, the reduction of imports, the loss of overseas markets, the loss of productive manpower, and the fact that the reduction of consumption of goods must produce harmful reactions on the workers’ living standard, unless steps are taken to meet the position, the executives recommend that the Government be urged to provide for stabilisation of present prices of essential services and commodities, together with the present rates of wages and salaries. This policy will entail: The maintenance of access to essential foodstuffs, to clothing, to light, and heat and shelter, for all. The maximum availability of goods while stabilising prices of essentials. The fixation of prices for essential commodities. The rationing of essential commodities where shortage develops. The ordinary law of supply and demand to determine prices .of

non-essential and luxury goods. That where landing costs of overseas essential commodities or raw materials advance, prices on local market be maintained by the payment of subsidy. The categories of essential commodities to be stabilised to include: Essential foodstuffs. essential standard articles of clothing and household necessities, rent, public services, fuel and light.” The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, spoke on the recommendations in the afternoon, and after discussion, which was continued at the night session, {hey were adopted unanimously. The following motion was carried:— "That this conference endorses the progressive, sound and beneficial financial policy and methods of the Government, including exchange control and import and export licensing. It thanks the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, for the able and efficient way in which he has handled the country’s finances, and congratulates him particularly on the competent and courageous defence of the living standards of the useful people of New Zealand. The conference, in recording its high appreciation of Mr Nash’s services, pledges the delegates present and the party as a whole to support sincerely, and determinedly the joint recommendations of the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party and the national executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour regarding New Zealand’s present economic position and future economic policy.”