A LACK OF PLANNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26027, 15 December 1945, Page 8

A LACK OF PLANNING

Sir, —In the Budget we read that the Government intends rapid expansion in production both primary and secondary, and that it hopes to foster our export trade as much as possible in an endeavour to find new avenues for such trade, thereby increasing our ability to import. These are fine sentiments; but there is nothing in the Budget to indicate that the Government has any plan whatever for increasing production, either primary or secondary. This is instanced by the disgraceful action it has taken against the rural population in the passing of the recent legislation regarding the country quota. The fundamental purpose of trade is to increase the living standards of all, and so add to the pool of goods from which all have to draw. What encouragement has Socialism given to the farmers to create this necessary pool of goods with which to expand our export trade? The obvious answer is that the Government has done its best to stifle primary production by regimentation and controls with the result that production is on the decline instead of on the increase as it should be. It will be possible to increase production by at least 50 per cent, under proper and practical encouragement with a corresponding prosperity to the people, but this can never be accomplished under the present Socialist system.—l am, etc., Dunedin, December 12. Dija’s Son*