DRASTIC SAVING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 66, 11 December 1930, Page 12

DRASTIC SAVING

Call of Industrialists STATE EXPENDITURE Deputation to Mr. Forbes A curtailment in State and locjil body expenditure was considered an essential factor in the economy necessary to meet conditions as they exist to-day by a coni’erence of representatives of all phases of industry, both primary and secondary, whieh met in Wellington yesterday. The conference, which was convened by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, was representative of the following organisations: Associated Chamber's ot Commerce of New Zealand, Manufacturers’ Association, Employers’ Federation, New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Farmers’ Union, Sheepowners federation, Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Poultry Breeders’ Association, Flaxgrowers Association, and Land Development League. The president of the associated chambers Mr. H. T. Merritt, of Auckland, presided over about forty delegates. National Subjects. According to the circular convening the conference its primary purpose was to enable a discussion to be held on all questions of national importance, upon which the views of the chambers of commerce would ordinarily be presented to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, on his return from abroad. A further object was to arrive at an agreement in order that all bodies might be able to act jointly in order that any deputation which might be organised to wait upon the Prime Minister might be a joint deputation of all the bodies concerned. The conference was not a long one. It assembled at 10 a.m., and shortly after one o’clock it completed discussion. A number of resolutions prepared prior to the conference were submitted and discussed, and- the effect of those that were passed will be the subject of representation to the Prime Minister as soon as arrangements can be made for him to hear a deputation on his return to the Dominion. Drastic Economies. The proceedings were not open to the Press, but after the conference had concluded the following statement was issued from the office of the Associated Chambers of Commerce: — “The conference reached a unanimous decision that the present conditions of the country’s trade and industry require drastic economies ftp be effected in the costs of and distribution of the Dominion’s products, and as an essential factor in the economy a curtailment of State and local body expenditure. . . . , . “Unanimous decisions were arrived at on all matters submitted for the consideration of the conference, and these conclusions will form the subject of representations to be made to the Prime Minister on his return from abroad.” FIXATION OF WAGES Based on Produce Costs Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, December 10. Resolutions on similar lines to those passid by the Manawatu executive of the Farmers’ Union and the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association advocating drastic action to check depression were passed at a meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr. M. H. Oram, president of the chamber, when bringing forward the resolutions for discussion said that only by insistent and reiterated demands from members of the public and by creation of enlightened public opinion would the necessary reforms be instituted. When one looked around, said Mr. Oram, it was found that the country’s only assets were its primary products and all expenditure must be based on the price received for those products. To base wages on the cost of living was wrong. The farmer had to take what the market would give him for his products and the labourer should take what the market could give him for his labour. When the price of primary produce fell so should the price of labour and everything else with it. At present the prices of primary products were down to prewar level, while the costs of production had risen 6 per cent.