MUDDLE AND DRIFT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 6 October 1917, Page 7

MUDDLE AND DRIFT.

. AFTER- THE WAR. PROBLEMS. Dr. Addison, the Minister of Reconstruction, in a speech to representatives of the chemical industries of Britain, said : We have had supplied to us in the Government departments a deal of information as to the steps which our enemies are taking to deal with industrial matters in the after-war period, and unless this country is to find itself defeated in some directions of commerce, whatever may after the war. we must take time by the forelock. Certainly our enemies are doing so in the most elaborate and painstaking detail. In some of the industries in this country the experience of the ■Ministry •of Munitions shows that we have allowed our British habit, if I may so describe it, of "muddle and drift," to bring us into a position of extreme danger. There were many essential materials of which we were very short, and which for a long time after the beginning of the war we tound ourselves in most serious difficulties in obtaining. So I want you to join with us in taking steps in time to deal with the problems which will arise at the termination of the war. There are at the present time at least five different Government departments which are concerned, in one way or another, with what will happen to the Chemical industries at the finish of the war. I sincere hope, in respect of one of them, that we shall be able to take steps to induce the British fanner to make a much greater use of fertilisers than he ever did before. The policy of the Ministry of Reconstruction is not, to interfere with your business. Our desire is to help, so far as we are able to help, and I can assure you that you heed have no fear that I am at the Ministry of Reconstruction to promote nostrums of any sort or kind. I want jto get to work to examine the."problems fairly and squarely, with the assistance of the hard work which has already been done by various committees, and to take such steps as may mitigate any of the evils that may arise during the reconstructing period as far as possible : and if we do not succeed in placing some JBritish industries on a much firmer and more scientific foundation than they were before, it will be very discreditable to us as a nation.