AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25561, 14 June 1944, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

EVIDENCE OF ACTIVITY IRKSOME RESTRICTIONS (Special) AUCKLAND,, June 13. “Great admiration is expressed in Australia of the wonderful exploits of our division in the Middle East,” said Mr C. M. Bowden, M.P. for Wellington West, who returned to-day from a visit to the Commonwealth. “It is not so well known that we have fighting forces in the Pacific also, but those who do know pay high tribute to the.r work. Altogether New Zealand is credited with a good war effort.” Commenting on business conditions, Mr Bowden said there was evidence ot activity on every hand. Melbourne and Sydney had been greatly increased m population by the additional centralisation and expansion of industries. Just as in New Zealand, trading profits were satisfactory, but the taxation was very high, having reached the point of curtailing initiative and expansion. The matter which seemed to cause most concern to business men was the degree of control to which they were subject, and there was an evident determination to bring about relaxation as soon as it was justifiable. Public opinion in Australia had received a shock at the. disclosures of the inquiry into the censorship, particularly that remarks in letters to or from wives or mothers of men overseas had been used as a basis for prosecutions under the rationing regulations arid that formulae or other information in business correspondence had 'been made available to Government departments. A demand was also being made for a pronouncement from the Government of how far and in what way it would co-operate with industry in post-war reconstruction, Mr Bowden said. There was an, opinion that the best plan would be for therGovernment to allow industry to do the job of rehabilitation, but for the Government to help to create favourable conditions and to have public works in reserve as a balancing factor available at short notice. A request was also being made for some taxation concessions at the end of the war to facilitate the changeover to peace production. A big postwar housing programme was being planned, and a demand was being made that the “ bar sinister ” should not be raised against private industry. Mr Bowden said he had seen some very interesting Rugby football in Sydney. if an Australian team could be, sent to New Zealand he believed it would give a good account of itself.