SOLVING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 24765, 9 June 1942, Page 4

SOLVING ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Addressing a public meeting in the Victoria Concert Chamber last night, Mr John Hogan criticized those who said “win the war first and then solve economic problems.” To adopt immediately practical proposals for solving economic problems and removing financial obstacles that still hampered the war effort would bring victory much closer and make it much more worth while," he said. He outlined a programme covering control of war-time expenditure, financial policy, industry, agriculture and reconstruction and rehabilitation. He congratulated the Government on the successful introduction of rationing, and said that while it had been delayed the Government had obviously benefited by the mistakes made in England and Australia. Social creditors had always contended that full rationing and price control were necessary in war time, and that then it would be unnecessary to reduce consumer purchasing power by loans and taxation. Mr A. W. Jones was chairman. It was decided to forward the following telegram to the Government and to Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P.: "This public meeting of loyal citizens strongly protests against the suppression of the paper Democracy and the detention of the publisher's mail. The rights of free speech and open trial, and of civil liberties, must be preserved.”