ECONOMIC UNITY IN WAR

Southland Times, Issue 23945, 11 October 1939, Page 7

ECONOMIC UNITY IN WAR

Committee Set Up In Britain LORD STAMP TO ACT AS ADVISER (British Official Wireless) i RUGBY, October 9. Replying to a question in the House of Commons this afternoon the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) said that the responsibility for the co-ordination of all branches of the nation’s war effort rested with the War Cabinet as a whole, though particular problems would be resolved through a -discussion between appropriate Ministers and members of the War Cabinet

In the case of the economic and financial policy, a committee had been set up under the chairmanship of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sh John Simon) and composed of the Ministers concerned. “The duty of this committee is to keep under review and to co-ordin-ate the activities of the departments in relation to the economic effort of the country as a whole,” said Mr Chamberlain. “It is also responsible for supervising Anglo-French economic co-operation. Lord Stamp has been asked to assist the committee as adviser on economic co-ordination. “Under the Ministerial Committee an inter-deparimental committee of officials has also been sel up over which Lord Stamp will preside Arrangements for Anglo-French economic cooperation already exist and discussions between the representatives of the two Governments will tak- place on many common problems. The Minister of Supply (Dr E. L. Burgin), replying to a questioner who drew attention to the fact that wool traders and merchants had to disclose business details to the controllers who were trade rivals, said: “The controllers have ceased actively to participate in the wool industry.” The Board of Trade has authorized the export of motor-cycles, cars, chassis and engines to any destination without licence.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) was asked in the House of Commons whether the Government continued to give de facto recognition to Slovakia. He replied that the Government had issued an exequatur some time ago according 'de facto recognition ana had subsequently granted an exequatur to the Slovak Consul in London. The Slovak Consul had protested against the recent German occupation and had declared that the aims *and ideals of Britain and F a.ice were identical with those of the Slovaks Britain continues to recognize him as the Slovakian representative in London.

WARTIME PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA

SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP

(Received October 10, 11.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, October 10. A special committee has been appointed to investigate continuously war-time financial and economic problems. This committee is headed by Professor L. F. Giblin, Professor of Economics at the Melbourne University, and it will advise the War Cabinet on such matters as:— (1) Taxation measures made necessary by the war. including the taxation of war-time profits. (2) The effects upon the national finance and economic structure of possible interference with shipping. (3) The problems of war employment. (4) The remedying of any weakness in the national structure disclosed by war conditions generally. The committee will consist of leading economists.