NATIONAL PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 23817, 22 February 1941, Page 20

NATIONAL PRODUCTION

GENERAL DIRECTORSHIP COUNCIL ADVOCATED BY MR COATES [Pek United Pit ess Association.] AUCKLAND, February 2J. The cst •.blishnient of a council representiug farming, industrial, and labour interests to guide the people o f New Zealand towards a greater war effort :'.i general, and, particularly, greater production, was advocated by Mr T. G. Coates, a member of the War Cabinet, iu an address at a meeting held 1 11 the Town Hall to-night. The meeting was convened privately, and comprised a representative attendance of business men and other citizens. Mr Coates said he had been speaking to the Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. P. Fraser) only that morning, and ho thought that Mr Fraser agreed that there shoidd he some general directorship council representing various interests, to call citizens generally to the best methods of increasing production and stimulating the war effort. Such a council, he considered, should not only be consultative, hut should possess certain executive powers as well. “ This is a war to the knife, demanding fortitude, sacrifice, and effort from each of us. as well as goodwill and comradeship in the common cause, and a complete understanding of the difficulties,” Mr Coates said. “ We cannot keep up the high standard we have had and at the same time give a 100 per cent, war effort. We cannot do it, and it is no good trying to promise it. It means sacrifice and effort, anti some of our earnings and savings going to the war effort.,’’ Mr Coates said he had heard emphasised the need for a proper statistical survey in industry. This’ was actually in progress, _ The future might mean changes in industry, with some nonessential industries being diverted to essential production.