WORLD PLANNING SYSTEM

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 6

WORLD PLANNING SYSTEM

ACUTE PROBLEM FOR FUTURE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR’S PREDICTION (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 27. In opening the session on “Science and World Planning” at the London Conference of international scientists held under the auspices of the British Association, the Russian Ambassador (M. Maisky) said there would doubtless come a day when a system of comprehensive planning, economic, social, and political, would embrace the whole globe, but this day was not yet very near. “I come from a country where planning is the very foundation of economic life,” he added. “In this the Soviet Union has reached a very considerable degree of perfection. “It took us more than 20 years to build the present system of planning, in spite of the fact that we had to reckon with difficulties which originate from the existence of private property in the means of production and distribution. Jf such was the position in a single country with a strong and unified control of administration, how much more difficult it will be to bring about economic planning on a world scale. Obviously this is not a matter for to-day, or even to-morrow, yet I think the problem of large-scale planning in international affairs will become an acute one very soon after the war is over. “I have no doubt that the burning question which will animate millions of human beings all over the world will be how to escape a repetition of the great catastrophe through which we shall have just passed, and how to ensure immunity from war for our children and our children’s children.” Adding a warning that the most im-, portant need of humanity to-day was to destroy the system of German Nazism, M. Maisky said scientists must help to solve this immediate problem. He explained also that Russian scientists were unable not only to attend the conference owing to communication difficulties, but also to relay broadcast speeches, owing to German interference. The Moscow Academy of Science, however, had sent the following message: “Soviet scientists are fighting for mankind against the common enemy shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues in Allied countries, and will spare no effort to achieve final victory; but it will be a victory for freedom, culture, science, and civilisation over barbarity and tyranny.” SCIENCE NEEDED IN INDUSTRY PRESENT INEFFICIENCY IN BRITAIN LONDON, September 27. The Association of Scientific Workers is taking up the case of a chemist formerly employed in a Royal ordnance factory, who was dismissed allegedly because he wrote an article criticising inefficiencies in the manufacture of munitions. He was ostensibly dismissed for inefficiency. Dr. J. E. D. Swann, referring to the case at the conference of international scientists arranged by the British Association, said this revealed a state of affairs in which the existence of incompetent control was being concealed by the use of extremist measures. “Many of industry’s scientists are still working on peace-time problems,” said Dr. Swann. “Others have insufficient work of any sort. Some firms are concentrating on problems of postwar competition. "Self-important departmental heads are loth to dismiss redundant staff, and gross inefficiency is arising owing to executives with inadequate scientific knowledge. A special and fully empowered inquiry should be made. War production could be increased immediately without cost by pooling information on the most efficient use of plant. Restriction on information is a paramount stupidity which is being paid for in blood.” I —^~=