TE CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23470, 6 October 1939, Page 4

TE CONTROL

aV marketing bill / THREAT -TO INDUSTRY ' 'CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW ■ IA RESOLUTION OF PROTEST i . "National Socialism, tho doctrine Jvith -which wo are at war, is being • jndopted in ' this country as in GerSnany," said Mr. Gainor Jackson, when a motion protesting against the extension of powers proposed by tho Government in tho Marketing Amendment [Bill was introduced at, a meeting of Ike Auckland Chamber of Commerco yesterday; Legislation which had been rushed through in the dying hours of the session to hoodwink tho public, ho paid,' was nothing else but socialisation cf tho means of production, distribution and exchange. Under the guise of • emergency' war legislation, every section of the community was faced with socialisation of the State. Tho' boot and clothing industries .tumid shortly bo socialised, said Mr. [Jackson. Manufacturers and exporters tvere now in tho same situation, and tvoro united in their opposition to tho bill. It seemed that there would soon Jjg no. private enterprise left in the (Country Disturbance of Business j 7 * The motion, which was proposed by the chairman;*' Mr. A. Ely, and seconded by Air. A. G. Lunn, stated that tlio Auckland Chamber of. Commerce recorded its protest against the vast extension, of powers proposed by {the Government in the Marketing 'Amendment Bill, considering that the proposals went far beyond what was jpecesSary /for the effective prosecution tof New Zealand's share in the war. It pi so asserted that from tho unnecessary disturbance of the movement of ' Industrial and commercial activities kilong we'll established and capably {organised channels there would follow jB retardation of production in primary )nnd secondary industries, with a widespread growth of unemployment. That yould result in the Dominion being finable to play its proper part in the yar effort, or, in due course, to effect ja proper post-war recovery. The man in the street would suffer from tho effects of the proposed biil, said Mr. Lunn. Export organisations capable of handling business in the best possible way had been built up by men who had spent their •Jives at the work, and chaos would rule if the Government placed officials in these organisations. Stock and station agents, who had been the backbone of the' farmers in conducting their business, would be wiped out. Loss of Employment The business community should first be grten the opportunity of working out its own scheme, without bureaucratic interference, said Mr. J. A. C. lAllum. If the Government would indicate its aim, business people were best qualified to work out a plan in jßnce with the true facts. "If we fail,'!* Mr. Allum said, "that !s the time for the Government to step in. But, remembering conditions during the last war, I am sure the business community will not fail." As it was, Mr. Allum concluded, the business world' was only marking time. The proposed legislation would not be helpful to 'the employment position in industry. As changes came, men would Jose their work. There were too many examples of jfche ineptitude of those placed by the (Government in business control, said OMr. A. M. Seaman. He did not intend leny reflection on the capabilities of civil servants, but it was not to be " expected that they would have the game grasp of business organisation as inen who had been trained in the .Work. . The resolution was carried unanimously.