UNANIMOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1941, Page 3

UNANIMOUS.

LABOUR DECISION.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTION.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday. A decision that the Government be urged to provide for the stabilisation of present prices of essential services and, commodities, together with the present rates of wages and salaries, was made by the Xew Zealand Labour party at its annual conference to-night. The decision was made unanimously after the conference had considered for five and a half hours Xew Zealand present economic position and future economic policy.

The decision was embodied in joint recommendations arising from the report of the Economic Stabilisation Conference of 1940 and presented by the National Executive of the Labour party and the National Executive of the Federation of Labour.

The. Economic Stabilisation Conference, in its report, stated that its recommendations were designed to achieve two main results. The first was to stabilise prices, wages and costs so that the coet of the war was not thrown unfairly on one group to the benefit of another. The second objective was to increase all kinds of production and efficiency of every type of service which would help, however indirectly, the national drive.

With a view to implementing this policy the national executives of the Labour party and the Federation of 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 loes of overseas markets, the loss of productive manpower, and the fact that, a reduction of consumption of goods must produce harmful reaction on the workers' living standard unless steps are taken to meet the position, your executive recommends that the Government be urged to provide for the stabilisation of the present prices of essential services and commodities, together with the present rates of wages and salaries.

What Policy Entails. "This policy will enable (a) maintenance of access to essential foodstuffs, clothing, light, heat, shelter for all; (b) maximum availability of goods whilst stabilising the prices of essentials; (c) fixation of prices for essential commodities; (d) rationing of essential commodities where a shortage develops; (e) the ordinary law of supply and demand to determine, the prices of nonessential and luxury goods; (f) that where the landing costs of overseas essential commodities or raw materials advance, prices on the local market be. maintained by the payment of the subsidy; (g) categories of the essential commodities to be stabilised to include essential foodstuffs, essential standard articles of clothing and household! necessities, lent, public se-rviees, fuel and light."

The Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) spoke on recommendations in the afternoon, and after discussion, which was continued at the night session, they were adopted unanimously.

The following motion was carried: "That this conference endorses the progressive, sound beneficial financial

policy and methods of the Government, including exchange control and import and export lice.nsing. It thanks the Minister of Finance for the able and efficient way in which lie has handled the country's finances, and congratulates him particularly on the competent and courageous defence of the. living standard® of the useful people of New Zealand."