ARMAMENT INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 11

ARMAMENT INDUSTRY

NECESSITY FOR CONTROL STATE OWNERSHIP URGED Control of the armament industry by State ownership of munition factories was urged by the Rev. James Milne in an address at a luncheon held by the Auckland branch of the League of Nations in Milne and Chovce's deception Hall yesterday. The president. Mr. W. T. G. Airey, presided. "The people of Great Britain am coming to the realisation that the armament industry must be controlled," said Mr. Milne. A commission sot up by the League of Nations reported in 1921 that private munition companies had adopted reprehensible methods to increase the sale of armaments. The recent action of the United States Senate in appointing a commission to inquire whether armament firms fomented war was one of the most interesting things the United States had done for some time. " Although State ownership of munition factories is socialistic in tendency, 110 harm to capital would result." added Mr. Milne. One had only to look at present-day conditions to realise that the control of armaments was essential for the welfare of the world. The president reported that since April 1 about 65 new members had been enrolled, that number being larger than in any similar period previously. That stimulus was very encouraging.