The Putaruru Press PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Phone 28 . P.O. Box 44 Office . Oxford Place THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1933. PLANNED PRODUCTION.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 268, 7 September 1933, Page 4

The Putaruru Press PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Phone 28 . P.O. Box 44 Office . Oxford Place THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1933. PLANNED PRODUCTION.

HOW to maintain enterprise with control, and how to hold the balance fairly between producer and consumer, are two important problems. It is generally conceded that planned economy must be reasonably free if it is to be enterprising, and enterprise, with the extension of markets raising the standard of living in exporting and importing countries alike, is imperative if control is not to be stagnation. Direct exchange of products would be a return to the trade of the Middle Ages. In such a world as we live in we cannot regulate our buying from a particular country so that it exactly balances our sales to that country. Credits in one country may be used to purchase goods elsewhere, always provided that misguided nationalism does not upset the aggregate balance of trade. Such trading calls for modern merchant adventurers who will take risks to make new markets; the Governments do not care to take risks. It is doubtful, even, if large producers’ organisations have the outlook necessary for such enterprise. But if we create monopolies strong enough to control production and with sufficient freedom to conduct the marketing side of the business, would not their very strength be menacing ? Might they not choose to take a big profit from a limited output instead of a smaller profit from a greater output ? In other words, would they make the consumer pay ? The answer, we anticipate, would be that over the combines or trusts or cartels dealing with particular products would be a General Government controlling such combines in the interest of all the people. But would it not be possible for powerful combines to control this General Government? For example, has there never been such a thing as government by one section of the community ?