PREPARING FOR PEACE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 5

PREPARING FOR PEACE

Accountants On Need For Organization

Though the main strength of the British Commonwealth has to be used for winning the war, if is already recognized in Great Britain and other countries of the Empire that some constructive thought, must he given to the prospective peace. In New Zealand this need has been mentioned by leading members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

“Organization for war is unfortunately easier than organization for peace,” comments the New Zealand

"Accountants’ Journal.” One factor is tho nature and certainty of the markets for war products. There is also the presence of an overriding incentive and in time of war finance becomes a secondary consideration. These points make it all the more necessary that there should exist a body of people of experience ami judgment who can study developments and formulate concrete plans which can be quickly put. into operation when the time comes. In this regard we believe that the cooperation of members of the accountancy profession might well be sought. Unless some scheme is formulated peace will again find us unprepared and the result will be as before—hastily improvised measures which will only create fresh difficulties leading to distress and unemployment on a scale exceeding that following the last war.

“We believe that the best manner in which to tackle the problem is to create a group of voluntary workers in all of the main centres of the Dominion on much the same lines as what is being done in our patriotic efforts to provide comforts for the troops and other members of the various fighting services. Tn our opinion such committees can render invaluable service because they have the local knowledge and can more sympathetically deal with the individual difficulties of our men. There is always a tendency, under Government control, to centralize the administration. Though it might be claimed that, this is more efficient, the fact remains that under'such a system the human element is apt to be Overlooked and the recipients of assistance feel the lack of understanding. “It should be remembered too, that the problem is not merely that of settling men on the land. In recent years New Zealand has advanced very considerably in manufacturing. AVith a certain amount of technical training thousands of men can he absorbed into our industries.”