ORGANISATION OF DEVELOPMENT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24369, 22 September 1944, Page 6

ORGANISATION OF DEVELOPMENT

AIMS EXPLAINED BY

MR FRASER

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

(Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 21.

A better distribution of industry, is one of the aims of the Organisation for National Development, according to an explanation given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), when the vote for the department was before the House of Representatives today. Mr Fraser said the organisation's purpose was to co-ordinate, with a minimum of control, the development of State departments and industry. The Chairman of Committees (Mr R. McKeen) kept the discussion closely to the subject of the estimate, and Opposition speakers concentrated principally on the points that they had not got a great deal of information about the organisation, and would have to accept a good deal on trust. Some expressed misgiving whether the large number of committees contemplated as part of the organisation would impede progress. Mr T. L. Macdonald (Opposition, Mataura), speaking to the estimate of £12,960 for the Organisation for National Development, said it had a highsounding title. One could only hope its work would be in accordance with its name. It was obvious that there had to be preparation for post-war expansion. Such preparation must involve a survey and planning. Mr Macdonald asked'how far had the survey gone, who was doing the planning, what part would free enterprise have, was the new department just another growth of the bureaucratic machine? Mr, Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru) said that before the last election an informal committee of members had discussed some phases -of industrial development, including decentralisation of industry. That committee had to a certain extent paved the way for this new department, which sought to achieve some semblance of-order in the development of industry throughout the Dominion. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon, P. Fraser) expressed the belief that the Organisation for National Development would justify itself'one hundredfold. He could see no other way of co T ordinating national industrial life. There was no report available yet from this department, because it had not been functioning until recently. The only report on its preliminary activity had been‘a report submitted to the Cabinet. It was an organisation •which had arisen to meet a particular need, as had been the Organisation for National Security before the outbreak of war under the defence committee. Organisation for Peace The Organisation for National Development was an organisation for peace. It could not be set up earlier, as the Government’s full attention was occupied by the war, but now that the peak of organising for war had passed, everyone agreed that there should be an organisation for peace. He believed that the organisation could not be provided by any existing Government der pirtment. Existing departments, if they continued to function without coordination, would sometimes frustrate each other, and collide with each other’s, activities. The Organisation for National Development became necessary by the very nature of the problem. It would work through committees, on which would be represented the various Government departments concerned, also those groups of industry immediately 'concerned. For instance, there was the industrial development committee, which comprised the Hon. D. G. Sullivan (chairman), Messrs F. R. Picot and G, A. Pascoe (Supply Department), Messrs D. I. Macdonald and W. J. Truscott (Manufacturers’ Federation), and Mr A. Black (Federation of Labour), with Mr J. B. Prendergast as secretary. This committee had already been set up, and was busy in regard to industrial development. Other committees were in process of being set up. There would be a. committee for primary production, on which the Farmers’ Federation would probably be represented. . , ' • Mr Fraser said the new department would not be an over-riding one at all. Its purpose was to think out matters, to examine statistics and plans, and in other ways to ensure industrial expansion. An important' feature of the proposals was that the town planner had been transferred-from the Department of Internal Affairs to the Organisation for National Development. This would enable him—bably in conjunction with regional committees and regional planning pincers—to plan for the location of industry throughout the country, which was very desirable, particularly fotr the good of young people who should, as far as possible, be provided with employment which did not require them to leave their homes. The availability, of power for light industry made such a development possible, and in this respect New Zealand should set out to be different from other countries. The more people who could live and work in country areas the better. We should try to disperse industry in the future. The Organisation for National Development would lay the foundations for our national life.

Distributing Population Mr Fraser said no one liked to see older districts which had made important contributions to the life of New .Zealand, such as Otago, being denuded of their population. It was just common sense that the population should be distributed as equally as possible. The new organisation should direct development with co-operation, without coercion, and with as little control as possible. It was a question whether it snould be a permanent organisation, but he would say that it was set up to deal with the situation as it existed. The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G Sullivan), replying to Opposition suggestions that the industrial committee seemed weighted against manufacturers, said it was the set-up the manufacturers wanted. Not all the committees would be set up immediately. There would be two mam committees, industrial and agricultural, and others such as works, transport, and fuel would serve them. Local committees would gather information for the central committee which would make decisions. . Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) said he wished the organisation well and hoped it would function. The’Prime Minister had said that it was in the process of forming, yet the first statement about its organisation was made four months ago. There they saw delay right away. It might get muscle bound. Because of the hurdle the Industrial Efficiency Act had proved, he was guarded about the future of this organisation, with its many committees. The Government, when in Opposition, had taken exception to the number of boards. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland): They call them committees now. Mr Broadfoot: It’s the same thing. • Mr W. T. Anderton (Government, Eden) said the organisation should plan for the well-being of the producers of real wealth. Progress in the past had not taken into account the social side of life. Regional planning would be an important phase. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) said planning was neither good nor bad of itself. It depended on the objective and the means. They accepted that some form'd planning was necessary after this war, which was being fought for wider freedom, but not wider licence. 'Because the organisation was not yet working, the Prime Minister had to be taken on trust, and he was prepared to do that. Next year they could discuss the estimate in the light of experience. • The vote was passed.

and crafts were lost. There was a danger of their dying out, and to guard against this they must be taught to the younger Maoris. “That is why we are so anxious to get a permanent meeting-place for Maoris where they can meet together, and Carry out the teaching of their language, arts and crafts,” said Mr Andrews. The City Council had already advanced £75 towards this, and it was hoped that the rest of the money required would be forthcoming. The other guests of honour also expressed their sympathetic interest in the welfare of the Maori community.