STATE ACTIVITIES

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 6

STATE ACTIVITIES

No Antagonism To Private Enterprise

MR. FRASER’S REFERENCE

The idea of any antagonism between the State and private enterprise, or that the State was a tyrant and put private enterprise in shackles, was a dangerous misconception of modern society, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, when addressing delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Public Service Association in Wellington yesterday. The facts actually were that without many of the activities of the State, other activities could not be carried on. Air. Fraser was referring in particular to planning for the future, and the part research officers in various State departments would play in this. “Unless I read the signs wrongly, those who believe that you can keep on with old customs and pre-war circumstances are hopelessly wrong and self-deluded, said Mr. Fraser. There was similarity in history, but he was not sure that history repeated itself. There was in human events a decided movement, sometimes backward, sometimes forward, usually tlm latter. “We have in our own respective spheres to adjust our minds not only to present conditions, but to an understanding of what is coming.” , . No one could say there was a limit to what could be done in this country if the wealth producing processes were improved, extended and accelerated, so as to ensure greater and more efficient production, said Air. Fraser. What was the part of the respective sections of the community? The Government had its responsibility in planning ahead, in engaging the assistance of experts m all State departments which were concerned m the economic and social welfare of the country. That work —research into better methods—had become predominantly the function of the State. Though they heard innumerable complaints from all sections of people engaged in private enterprise about the State being a nuisance, that it put business in shackles, and that the State wits becoming a tyrant, the plain facts were that they could not carry on without the present State organization, said Air. Fraser. The State had transferred its functions from being supervisory, from being in some instances repressive, to being a constructive and helpful body assisting industrial activities in some form or other. The conception of a dictator State or dictator department in this country was quite erroneous. The State today, particularly when it administered sympathetically,. required and must receive the co-operation of all who curried on its services, said Mr Fraser, and those in charge of the State must, recognize the legitimate ambitions of those who served. Workers in al) industries could not possibly with benefit to themselves and to the nation carry on impeding work or any other harassing measures without them having a boomer ang effect on themselves, and injuring everybody else. Co-operation was esseu tial. Without it there could be no real progress.