STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 3 August 1918, Page 5

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

DECLARATION DELAYED BY WAR

COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING WITH ALLIES ESSENTIAL.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF IN-

DUSTRIES

NOT TO CONTINUE AFTER WAR

INTER-ALLIED PARTNERSHIP

SHOULD BE PRESERVED AFTER

WAR

LONDON, Aug. 1. | The Press Bureau states: Replying to . a deputation of two hundred manufacturers, introduced by Sir Edward Car- ; son at the House of Commons, who urg- | ed an early declaration of the Government's economic policy, th c Prime Minj lster. who was accompanied by Mr Bon&r Law, emphasised that such declaration was being delayed by war pre-oceupations, and also by the necessity for keeping in touch with, and being m complete accord with, the Dominions and the Allies.—Aus.-N.Z. O.A and Reuter. | Mr Lloyd George, continuing his reply to the deputation, said the Govern- ' ment had been discussing the problem i with the Dominions during the last few weeks, and had a discussion with the Allies before America entered the war. Hitherto Amerca had not expressed an : opnion on the Paris resolutions. It was vitally important that the policy of the j United States and the policy of Britain I should completely agree. All he could . say at present was that he was very j hopeful, because an inter-Allied agree- | ment on these great problems- meant i that the economic fate of the world i would be in the hands of the Allies. J The Premier emphasised th o necessity ■of securing the essential industries against unfair attack and unfair competition. These industries were essential nob merely from a commercial viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of national defence. He did not doubt that they would reach an agreement in this regard. No Government could possibly avoid giving the 'earliest and deepest consideration to the matter. The longer, the war lasted, the sterner must be the economic terms imposable on the foe, and the sooner. th c foe realised that, the better. We must be in a position to determine what will be fair conditions, without having them imposed by the will of the enemy. He agreed that immediately after peace was declared there would be industrial dislocation. One of the great difficulties would be where and how to get raw material. Transport difficulties would also prevail during the first years of peace. Those questions demanded the most careful consideration, combined with a complete understanding with the Allies and the Dominions. Mr Lloyd George proceeded to say that no one ever dreamt of continuing the present system of Government control after the war. He agreed that this country's strength before the war lay very largely in the ingenuity, self-reliance" adaptability and resource of individual effort. At the same time, there was the lesson of th,e war, wherein the State had done good work in assisting and encouraging industries, coupled with combined effort

amongst the industrialists). Magnificently as the business and industrial communities had shown a capacity to organise for the Avar, he quite agreed that when the war was over the present absolutely necessary interference in business by the State must disappear. During the transition period they were not going to get raw material without considerable Government interference. They must also organise transport. They had to see that the Dominions received a fair share of British manufactures. The Allies also were entitled to receive assistance from Britain in the re-equipment of the essential conditions of their industrial and national life. Perhaps a business order might come from an enemy source, more remunerative than an order from Britain, the Dominions or the Allies. He thought they ought to see that the people who were fighting together should be served first. "Don't let us make the mistake of dissolving partnership whenever the* war ends. The world won't come right immediately after the war. If you dissolve partnership with all these great peoples—a partnership cemented with blood —there would be men quite ready to take advantage thereof, even when the war is over. Therefore it is vital that when the war is over, and the transition period comes, when there will not be enough to go round, we must keep the partnership going and help each other to the end, so that the brotherhood shall remain." The Premier deprecated the revival of past controversies. "Let us consider the problem anew. It's the only way we can secure absolute national unity. I shall be very surprised if you are not quite satisfied with the Government's statement when it is made, but first we must get into closer contact with, the Allies, and see that there is no declaration that will in the leastwise interfere with Allied concord, goodwill and cooperation. Be assured it will be the chief concern of the Government to see that the great industries, whereon the strength of the country depends, shall be developed and strengthened.

MR BONAR LAW'S VIEWS. Mr Bouar Law, following, dealt with the question of control. He said that the Government was anxious to abandon the war-time restrictions at the soonest possible moment, and to allow individual competition free play. He fully believed a corner would be organ- : ised of all the staple raw materials, and ; that their old enemies would arise.

One lesson of the war was the necessity of not only thinking of the profits that mamifacturens could make, but the conditions of the men who worked for them. The war rendered one step easier, which was. an immense move forward in the whoie conception of trade policy, namely the Government's acknowledgment of' the principle that we were one Empire, and of preference within the Empire. He was convinced that the whole country would endorse the Government's decision.

One of the lessons of the war was the necessity to produce where possible such things as were essential for preserving the country's safety and independence, the best way to which was t-o get the largest possible* amount of unity and support to any plan the Government proposed to ad out.

-Mr Ikmar Law believed that if the conditions of lahor wore to be maintained there must at least be stability in the Home market. He emphasised that Government consideration of this matter was; difficult and complicated, owing to the fact that they must think of their allies. Fortunately a very

large percentage of essential raw material was within th 9 Empire, and the question of preference was goino- to be of immense advantage to the whole Empire, because the Dominions' present policy of placing their produce at ""the disposal of the Empire would continue after the war. He was confident that the statement which the Government would be able to make would not conflict with the views of any of the 41----lies, especially America, whose goodwill waa vital.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Association