Economists blamed for increasing controls

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 19

Economists blamed for increasing controls

PA Auckland Economists are all theory, and mostly in conflict with practical thinking, according to the chairman of Henry Berry, Ltd (Mr G. A. Brown). He told the company’s annual meeting that the time had come when private enterprise must make the Government reduce bureaucratic control, and put more reliance on the business community for advice, and action. “Economists, unknown in our lives 50 years ago, are intelligent, educated people, who, with the best intentions in the world, expound fluently their views, which unfortunately are all

: theory, and mostly in conflict with the practical hinking and practical planning of the business executive,” Br Brown said. “It is the business executive, not necessarily welleducated, who by his ingenuity, and intuition, takes calculated risks, and is a main avenue for progress.” Mr Brown said that there

waa a call for a planned economy, but, in his view, this meant controls, controls, and more controls. “Legislative controls are continuously fed into the bureaucratic machine. We are over-governed, and excessive regulations are a stumbling block to the growth of private enterprise,” said Mr Brown.