FREE ENTERPRISE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 7

FREE ENTERPRISE

BUSINESS CAMPAIGN

FIGHTING FUND SOUGHT

A national fighting fund for "the restoration and preservation of free enterprise" in this country is the aim of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, which proposes to spend at least £25 000 on a publicity campaign spread over the next 18 months.

It is amazing." states a circular ] r e «er issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, "that some New Zealand businessmen with the example of Germany before their eyes, should be gulled into selling their long-term benefits under free enterprise for short-term advantagethat they should fail to perceive that they are only being used as pawns that will be rendered ineffective in an ultimate checkmate. It was with the same eye to immediate gains that the industrialists and other sections of private enterprise in Germany backed Hitler's National Socialist party—a party which, before long gained such power that it turned on its backers and made them flee the country, their holdings lost"

Mr. Ijangstone's "Outline"

Mr. F. Langstone, M.P.. had, with the backing of the New Zealand Labour party, frankly outlined the Socialist plan for New Zealand first, the Bank of New Zealand; then all the other banks; next, socialisation of the stock companies; then socialisation of the insurance companies, the circular states.

That would dispose of the larger financial interests. After that tactical victory, absorption of commercial and industrial undertakings would follow as a "mopping up" operation in due course.

"Every Socialist member of Parliament is pledged by signature to bring in complete socialisation," the circular continues. "It is the Hitlerian technique of open declaration shocking the people first and then getting them used to the idea.

"To-day New Zealand is facing the parting of the ways: either it throws in its lot with a cast iron system of State control or strikes out for the rights and privileges of free enterprise.

"The Associated Chambers of Commerce stands four square for the latter. Through the help of its chambers it has financed a widespread newspaper campaign on the proposed nationalisation of the Bank of New Zealand, of which Mr. Langstone said in Christchurch: 'When the Government controlled the banking system it would have the whole thing.' In other words, the Government would have complete socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange within its grasp. "Great Straggle" "We in the Chambers of Commerce are engaging in the present advertising campaign with regard to the Bank of New Zealand for the sole reason that we are trying to save the commercial and industrial community from being delivered into the hands of one Government Department of credit, and because the Socialists have chosen the banking arena for the commencement of a great struggle in which the rights of private ownership and free enterprise in this country are at stake." The Associated Chambers emphasise that in the past they have done nothing to embarrass the Government. Particularly in the matter.of taxation during the war period have they been careful not to cause embarrassment. The result of this, it is believed, is that their attitude has been taken as weakness. ."The extremist elements have now won a majority in the New Zealand Labour party," the circular goes on. "They are bent on a programme of absolute control of State ownership. This has been made fully plain during recent weeks.

Informing the Public

"Business men alone, with their resources, can take the spearhead in a frontal attack on to-day's blatantly declared socialistic objective and the danger that this presents to aIL Few men in the street know anything about the way private enterprise works or how merchandising, financial or any other type of business functions; there has •never been any steady flow of allthe year round educative and explanatory pamphlet ■ literature to counter the vast flood of 'Leftist' material that pours out at cheap rates from the printing press and which undoubtedly moulds the people's thinking. It is unfortunately true that a cause that is just does not • necessarily survive on tnat account- It must be vocal. ,. The Associated Chambers assert that the people must be told and shown that a good cause is right ana just. The business man is very prone to look around for someone to do his fighting for him. In the issue of whether his own business survives or not, he-hasjto do his ownfighting and has to fight vnth. his own money. .