WARTIME CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1943, Page 4

WARTIME CONTROL

EFFECT ON COMMERCE

NOTE OF CAUTION SOUNDED

Emphasising I*he importance of control Joeing kep.t in its proper perspective, Mr. W. A. .Simpson, president of the United Kingdom Manufacturers' and N*ew Zealand Representatives' Association., told the annual meeting yesterday afternoon that it would be wise for those responsible for control in wartime to recognise thai the public woidd net take too kindly to controls, restrictions, and rationing beyond what they considered a xeasohaWe period.

My. Simpson made particular reference to regimentation as applied to trade and commerce. "I make use of the word regimentation in its broadest sense, and in preference to the more general expression socialisation," he said. "I believe the latter is too frequently used when the former may be mor t e appropriate. We hay,e a measure of freedom and liberty of action in the conduct of our business notwithstanding restriction by means of control, but owx interests ,ar,e not .exactly socialised. Some may "argue it is -a. moot point, perhaps it is, but there is no denying the fact that we are being regimented today, probably more than ever in history. We must be ever, watchful, however, that socialisation I does not follow in the wake of control' or regimentation." ! Who was in a better position than; the manufacturer to determine the; type of product, the .quality of the; product, and the best methods of; manufacture and distribution to thej consumer? He was progressive and: aggressive without being violently so. \ He sought to place his commodities in; the hands of the majority, which; called for initiative, while competition! demanded thaj; they be placed on -the! market at the most economical price,: and the manufacturer recognised he! could only sell what the public re-| quired. His reputation was built aipi on the good will and quality of his I •product, .and no amount of regimenta-; tion would produce goods at .a .cheaper, price than free competition. Probably! this very important aspect was too fre- i quently overlooked by students ofj political science when advocating! socialisation of the means of produc-S tion, supply, and distribution. ! "It is the duty of every member of; the community., and in particular this; .association, to .evolve ways and means; which will bring about the freeing .ofj .trade and .commerce from the shackles; imposed upon industry through regi-: mentation by control/ .added Mr..; Simpson. "The alternative to control; and regimentation should be co-opera-tion between the Government and* organisations interested in the development of trade and commerce, not! domination of the latter by the; -former. The new world set up as ,en-; visaged by the Atlantic Charter cannot; be implemented except through cooperation between national Govern-; ments, but this should not be made the excuse for infiltration into the sphere of tra.de and commerce byi Governments.*' ;