AUCKLAND PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 190, 9 May 1941, Page 6

AUCKLAND PROTEST

Operation Of Industrial

Efficiency Act CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

REPORT

Dominion Special Service.

AUCKLAND, May 8.

“In operation the Industrial Efficiency Act has proved the very antithesis of efficiency,” stated a report on the Act and its effect upon trade which was adopted by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Recommeuda tions also adopted were that if any of the Act’s provisions were accessary during the war period they should tie accompanied by adequate safeguards, chief of which was Hie setting up of an independent court of appeal, and that as soon as the war period was over the Act should be struck off the Statute Book.

The report listed a number of industries which in the four years of the Act’s operation had been declared licensed industries. It added that a further number was now under consideration for declaration, following which they would have no soul to call their own. Four years ago the Auck land Chamber of Commerce had passed a strongly-worded resolution of protest against the proposals contained in the Bill. Since then it had in its desire to give the Act a fair trial, refrained from active opposition "The chamber, however,” continued the report, "has received reports of maladministration of the Act and the failure of the Act in operation to give effect to its professed intentions. Tltere- | fore the chamber now feels impelled again to voice the strongest protest against increasing the socialization of industry under the Act. and specially against the wide powers of the Act. enabling it completely to subjugate a.l private enterprise and leading to a patent and progressive decline in industrial efficiency under the deadening hand of bureaucratic control.” Referring to the operation of the Act, the report stated that in many cases prices for goods produced by industries licensed under the Act were substantially higher, and at times for inferior quality articles. "Under the Industrial Efficiency Act and the import licensing system,” added the report, "abuses in production, marketing and distribution are being permitted which are little short of a, public scandal and call for the strongest reprobation. When lhe responsibility of these malpractices is charged to (lie Bureau of Industry it endeavours to shift the blame to the company or individual engaged in the industry.’’ The report also criticized the Act for what it called a grave potential abuse of public funds given under the power to help promote new industries by way of subsidies, grants, loans and tariff concessions and embargoes. In addition, with Its partner in crime, the import control regulations, it had done much to alienate the goodwill and cooperation of the people of the United Kingdom in the matter of reciprocal trade. In this regard, the report said, it had done anything but promote the economic welfare of New Zealand.