INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY

REGULATIONS UNDER FIRE CANTERBURY CRITICISM [United Press Association] CHRISTCHURCH. sth December. “I don’t think that there has been anything passed by Parliament which provides such a complete tool with 1 which to box us up,” said Mr T. N. Gibbs at a meeting of the council of j the Canterbury Chamber of Com- ‘ merce to-night while members were discussing critically the recent Indus- ! trial Efficiency Regulations. The coun- ! cii decided to send telegrams to the As--1 sociated Chambers of Commerce, the 1 Prime Minister, and to the Leader of . the Opposition asking that further proi tests be made against the regulations. I “These regulations provide an instrui ment which can carry us to complete socialistic control or be given a twist to ; Fascist control along the lines of corporation control.” Mr Gibbs said. “We l must watch the situation very closely.” A report on the regulations was made : to the Council by the chairman of the ! Parliaments*y Bills Committee. Mr A. A. G. Reed, who said that all men in industry must feel that they were get- i ting into a terrible situation, with the : Government heading for complete con- j trol of the economy of the country by a “brains trust” set up in Wellington. , and in its conceit believing that it i ! cculd control all the industry of the | Dominion. He did not know what ; could be done. It was not a case of | 1 altering a clause or clauses in the j regulations. He felt that all the regu- | lations would be repugnant to men in j ! industry. “There is only one way to alter the j business,” Mr Reed said. “You all know what that is. “It seems to me that some in- , j dividual is frightened that, after hav- | ; ng smitten the people with a sledge- , hammer, there is some life left and is j now bringing out a steam roller for j | the final blow.” said Mr S. O. Dillon. I ! “This regulation means that an indus- ! i trialist is to have no real interest in ! ! his own business and in the invest- ; i ment h y has made in it.” Mr A. M. Hollander agreed with the , point emphasised by Mr Reed that the question was not so much *ne of what ! might happen in the next year or two. but of the general policy trend. “One hesitates to think what might be the situation, say. in 10 years, if. this sort of thing goes on.” Mr Holj lander said. Mr Gibbs; Some members talk of ; manufacturers being affected, but it is I a matter affecting all types of business. I hope that some very effective protest is made. It was at first suggested that the i council should ask the Associated j Chambers by telegram to make repre- j sentations aeainst the regulations, but 1 Mr R. V. White suggested that the , Leader of the Opposition should also be asked to intervene further. Mr 1 I White said that Mr Holland had handled the matter very competently in the House of Representatives. This i i was agreed to. as was the suggestion j lof Mr H. S. Williams that a telegram ; of protest oueht also to be sent to the i Prime Minister.