PLANNING FOR AFTER WAR

Southland Times, Issue 25358, 9 May 1944, Page 4

PLANNING FOR AFTER WAR

Minister Replies To

Criticism

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. “The statement issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce raising objections to the Organization of National Development on the grounds that it is a 100 per cent. Public Service organization has been based on a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the recent announcement of the formation of the organization,” said the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, today. “The statement which I made recently referring to combined committees of Government officials and other selected personnel indicated quite clearly that the combined committees of Government officers and representatives of outside organizations would be established to deal with various aspects of national development, he said. “Several Ministers have already discussed the question of representation with the various bodies concerned and others will be doing so in the very near future. Other important personnel will also be included on the committees.

“To anyone who gives serious thoughts to this important matter of post-war planning and development will be apparent that the widest outlook and broadest possible basis is essential if our national development is to be reasonable, practical and successful. The brief outline which I gave the other evening covered mainly the Government side qjf the new organization. As I indicated then, this problem is obviously beyond the scope of any one Government department as at present constituted. The first thing to do was to link together all those departments in any way concerned. The second step was to widen the scope and outlook of each department by setting up combined committees of Government officers and personnel specially selected from outside the departments. “There will be a number of Inese combined committees. For example, there will be a committee on construe-, tion and another on power development under the chairmanship of the Hon. R. Semple, a committee on agricultural development under the Hon. B, Roberts, a rehabilitation and personnel committee (chairman, the Hon. C. F. Skinner), a transport committee (chairman, the Hon. J. O’Brien), _ a tourist and publicity committee (chairman, the Hon. W. E. Parry), an immigration and labour committee (chairman, the Hon. P, C. Webb), and an imports and shipping committee (chairman, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer). I myself will undertake the chairmanship of the committee on industrial development and commerce and distribution. Other committees may be set up from time to time to deal with other matters as the organization develops.”