REHABILITATION ADVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 82, 4 October 1944, Page 4

REHABILITATION ADVICE

O.C. A WANGANUI, This Day. Describing rehabilitation as a stinging nettle, which so many people wanted to leave to the Government, Mr. J. F. Salmon, deputy-chairman of the Wellington Rehabilitation Committee, in an address to the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce tonight, said that it was very necessary for trades and other organisations to plan ahead. Far too much reliance was being placed on the Government, when this was a problem for everyobdy, he said. He believed that 75 to 80 per cent, of post-war rehabilitation would depend on private enterprise. He had spoken to representatives of many trades and industries in New Zealand, and found that a number of them had already planned ahead. On the other hand, many had taken the view that they could do nothing until they knew what was going to happen. Mr. Salmon advised firms to be sure of what they wanted when the war was over, what services they intended to give, and the type of goods they intended to manufacture. When those 'points were determined it would be necessary to decide on future markets. In this respect New Zealand was fortunate, in that statistics dealing with every branch of commerce were collated and it was .possible to forecast future markets.

The past year, he added, had been one of clarification, and it was possible now to see the future more clearly. The type of planning so necessary was no easy matter. He realised that, and in the case of his own firm it had taken four months to complete.