STANDARDS BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 23 September 1941, Page 7

STANDARDS BILL

i CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN PROTEST MINISTER STATES CASE Protesting against compulsory standards in time of war, and urging that the Standards Bill now before the House be postponed till after the war. the Associated Chambers of Commerce recently forwarded a letter to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, in which it asked that a Parliamentary Committee be set up for the taking of evidence on the legislation. In his reply, the Minister says he notes that the Associated Chambers support the principle of standardisation, and remarks that "this is in aci eordance with the general and growing I attitude of business interests in the 1 leading countries, which realised the manifold advantages that result from ! the application of standardisation to | various phases of industrial and comI mercial life.” 1 “Referring, however, to your repre- j sentations urging the postponement of j j the Bill till after the War,” adds the ! ! Minister, ‘I would point out that the ; ‘ i ons you otter in support of this view, according to the evidence of ex- ♦ perience, constitute the soundest warrant for proceeding with the Bill. "It may be stated that there is ample factual evidence, based upon the experience of 1914-18 and the succeeding period and increasingly so during the present war, which demonstrates beyo.id .ill question that standardisation is probably the most potent single means of eliminating waste, conserving supplies, and securing the most effec- ! five utilisation of economic resources. However necessary these considerations are in normal times, they are of much more vital importance under present coiditions. U is established beyond all doubt that standardisation facilitates the supply and use of materials, by the orderly definition of essential factors and the consequent more effective control and direction of production resources. Y juv representations with regard to the revocation of licenses to use the standard mark are receiving consideration. ""here is ample precedent for the application bf compulsory standards \ both in this and other countries. ! Failure to apply standardisation may j indeed result in a dissipation of our re- | sources on a scale that would seriously handicap our most earnest endeavours to ensure u successful termination to the present struggle. ‘lt should not be assumed, however, that it is intended to enforce standards indiscriminately under the authority of clause 11 Consideration will be given to the possibility of some amendment to this clause, with the object of providing that it will apply only when some essential consideration warrants it being used.”