READY TO HELP

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 298, 17 December 1942, Page 6

READY TO HELP

TO STABILISE COSTS

COMMERCIAL ATTITUDE

Approval by the business community of the broad principle supporting the Government's stabilisation plan as a measure to retard the inflationary trend in New Zealand, was expressed by Mr. L. A. Eady, P 1 dent, at a meeting to-day or tne Auckland Chamber of Commerce executive. He felt that if administered it would benefit tne community, but regretted that the full regulations were not available earlier, to enable a study to oe made of their probable effect, especially as the measure was long overdue. _ What appeared a reasonable suggestion was that the Government, having increased housing costs and rents by increased sales tax on buiitiing materials, should put its house in order in this respect, and should not use the objectionable method ot subsidies, condemned by the 1940 stabilisation conference, to attempt to stabilise a large number of commodities It also seemed wrong in principle that wage earners as a class should be insulated from the effects of anv failure of the plan, while it would appear, too, unwise to have as chairman of the Stabilisation Committee one who was already overburdened by public duties. There were many anomalies to be ironed out. but lie was sure the business community would co-operate laithfullv. Mr. N. B. Spencer commented that a relaxation of the overtime pro-vis-ions of awards seemed a necessary part of any plan to keep down costs, to which another member replied that this no doubt might be under consideration, and members generally agreed that comment and criticism should be withheld until the full text of the regulations had been received.