SMALL UNITS IN INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 5 October 1936, Page 5

SMALL UNITS IN INDUSTRY

EFFECT OF INDUSTRY EFFICIENCY BILL USEFUL PART TO RE PLAYED / (United Press Association! CHRISTCHURCH, 4th October. The possibility of the Industrial Efficiency Bill leading to problems involving the independence of existence of individual firms in pursuit of the Government’s principle of co-ordina-tion in industries is not regarded by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) as a matter for present consideration.

Mr Sullivan in an interview yesterday, made it clear that he was not ready to discuss this possibility, saying it was one of the problems which would have to be dealt with by the machinery to be set up under the Bill. “It is impossible for anyone to prophesy to what extent the same redundancy as at present would exist under a co-ordinated system,” said Mr Sullivan. “You may have smaller units in competition with larger units unable to hold their own where they were attempting to give full service and to handle all the lines in an industry, ,but I can conceive that under a co-ordinated organisation ih industry there would be a useful part to be played by the smaller unit. It could devote itself to some special phase of activity of an industry which perhaps it could do efficiently. I think it may be possible to find a useful place in the scheme of things for the smaller units.” He added that he did not expect to have to settle disputes between larger and smaller firms; such problems would be dealt with by agreement. A number of industries, including two or three of the largest, had over a number of months made representations to the Government asking for legislation along the lines of the Bill with particular reference to co-ordination.

OPPOSITION IN AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESOLUTION AUCKLAND. Ist October. Strong oposilion to tho provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Bill was voiced at a special general meeting of the Chambe- of Commerce this morniiv nearly 100 members attending. A resolution, moved bv Mr F. G. Basket!., was carried though there were a number ol dissentients. The resolution expressed alarm at the far-reaching i.reposals contained in the Bill, involving bureaucratic control of all industrial and commercial activities in the Dominion, the comnlete subjugation of all private enterprise without provision for compensation, the unlimited powers given to the Minister in taking awav (hr* right of a subject to apneal to the Courts, and urging on the Government the desirability of modifying the Bill failin'; that, nostpoviinr further action until its far-reaching implications arc understood by the public.