SECTIONAL VIEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21210, 5 September 1940, Page 9

SECTIONAL VIEWS

FARMERS AND COSTS j OUTPUT OF COAL MINES MAXIMUM EFFORT LACKING J (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Varying points of view on the economic position of the country were expressed at the Economic Conference by delegates who spoke this afternoon in a general discussion which followed the statements of the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hen. P. Fraser, and the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash. The president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr W. W. Mulholland, said the farmers were afraid of a policy of continually increasing costs, even if those costs could be recoverable in their prices. They knew they were going to sell on low price markets after the war and if their costs were such that they could not produce at those prices New Zealand must lose those markets, with disastrous results not only to | farmers, but to all. Farmers would prefer a policy I which would enable them to keep 1 costs down, Mr Mulholland continued. If that were not possible their prices must be raised. Farmers wanted to know whether the Government’s policy meant that it would only pay farmers the price it received from the British Govern- , ment for the sale of the country’s major farm products. Workers’ Viewpoint The secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, Mr A. Cook, said the workers he represented were not satisfied with the position as it was today. They realised that to get an increase in wages which possibly next week would be taken away by an increase in the cost of living was absolutely no use. There was need to bring the farmer and his employee closer together. The real question facing the conference was how could something be done to arouse enthusiasm for work, said the secretary of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association, Mr T. O. Bishop. “I have an intimate knowledge of one industry,” said Mr Bishop, “and I have recently been engaged in making a survey of it throughout the Dominion. That survey is not yet quite complete, but I have seen enough to be sure that what I am now going to say is entirely true. I do not think anyone in that industry, with some few exceptions, is really putting forward the maximum effort of which he is capable, with a sincere desire to do all that lies within his power to produce to the fullest extent for the sake of the country. Absence of Team Spirit “I have no hesitation in saying the industry is not organised for maximum production, even on a peacetime basis,” Mr Bishop added, “and that there is a most deplorable absence of the spirit of real co-opera-tion between sections of mine workers, from manager to trucker, which is essential to efficiency.” The president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, Mr A. McLagan, said he did not think it was going to help to have people coming and accusing other sections of making no war sacrifice. Remarks of that kind could only be made from utter lack of knowledge of the position of people who had been accused. “If the miners of New Zealand are not working for their living I do not know who is,” Mr Lagan continued. He believed the people he represented were just as willing as anybody else were just as willing to see the war was won. They were making greater sacrifices than some other sections. Reduced Living Standard Mr F. P. Walsh, a delegate from the Federation of Labour, said the country was fast getting to the position where there would be a shortage of commodities. The Labour movement as a whole was prepared to go on to the same basis as the soldier, with all above that to go to the State. He believed the country would have to accept a reduced standard of living for the war. The workers were concerned to see that that was shared equitably. The secretary of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation, Mr W. H. Nicholson, said incomes of sheepfarmers had been stabilised, but their costs had not and they could not carry on on that basis. Some form of subsidy on export prices j was suggested. WORKING COMMITTEE MINISTER AS CHAIRMAN (By Telf'«raDti. —Press Association) I WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Economic Conference appointed a general working committee, which will begin work to-morrow. The committee consists of a chairman appointed by the Government, seven members appointed by organisations representing employers, farmers, chambers of commerce and manufacturers, and seven appointed by the Federation of Labour and trade unions. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, will be chairman and the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, Mr A. T. Donnelly, deputychairman. The committee will meet to-morrow to examine questions raised at the conference and any other matters relevant to its purpose. The chairman has power to convene the conference at any time. LOWER CONSUMPTION [ SAVINGS AND TAXATION (by THPRTaph.—press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Reinforcing the Prime Minister’s advocacy of saving as a method of preventing an undue demand for consumable goods, which would force

up prices, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, said all sections of the community should face up frankly and willingly to reduce consumption of goods which were available, in order to bring about the greatest possible stability in costs, prices and wages. This could be done to some extent through increased taxation, which would spread the burden and minimise the tendency to rising prices. Taxation must be sufficiently spread to ensure that the shortage of goods fell evenly on the whole community, Mr Nash continued. Rationing was one method, but on the evidence it would be unwise to have rationing in New Zealand, although it was already being applied to the extent represented in import restriction. The third most helpful method was by saving. If £150,000,000 of purchasing power existed this year, but only £100,000,000 of goods was available, the inevitable result would be rising prices, unless the remedies he had mentioned were applied.