"ECONOMIC MADHOUSE"

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 4

"ECONOMIC MADHOUSE"

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND SEARCHING CRITICISM LEVELLED. DR. CAMPBELL'S VISIT TO BRITAIN. "PLANNING OF A LEPROUS TYTB.'* By Telegraph—Press Association. Hamittcss. Last NtshtIn an address at the opening of the conference of No. 2 Dairy Board ward at Hamilton to-day. Mr. W. Grounds, a member of the Dairy Produce Board, who was presiding, levelled searching criticism at the Dairy Commission, is- ; eluding the proposal to send Dr. R. M. : Campbell, private secretary to the Ru Hon. J, G. Coates. to England to conduct trade ■ negotiations. To-day the course of affairs in New Zealand was being conducted cn the basis of an economic madhouse, said Mr. Grounds. There was a time when professors and teachers of economics were respected as. seekers after truth and formulas which would act as a guide to the better understanding c! fundamental principles. Was the industry likely to settle down complacently to a proposal ; that Dr. Campbell should be Mitt to England to negotiate about trade with ■ the British GovemratnC

Mr. Grounds added that he had t» reflection. to make against Dr. Campbell, who was a capable wan. alert and ci intelligen: mentality, but his scope for planning was taken from the wrong end. as was expressed in pamphlets of which everyone knew he was the author. The whole position was planned at the wrong end. His planning was of paralysis, of sterilisation.'and of a leprous type, proceeding from one member to another so that the body became so enfeebled that it could not resist the pressure of movement.

Mr. Grounds said the industry quue rightly felt a measure of disappointmeal at the ecnstractians placed upon some oi its presentations to the cosusussjon. It would appear that the coscnissaen had set scene of its nw important submissions out of alignment, had last sight of some of the primary ■coßsideiialiens and given greater attention to secondary matters.

"One aS the commssion's ®w«wns was th® «w®mbi»C of the industry on the assumption. that the Mujtry was sick." said Mr. Grounds. "The »dt»tey is not sack. In fact I consider that it is well and that it is better crganised than many other industries in the Dominion. The statement that this was the case and that some oi its features were out of date showed a striking Jack of appreciation of the petition." Criticism of the industry had done a great deal of ham in that the commission's submissions were not interpreted in the light cd the aspirations of the industry. The proposed relief under the rural mortgage corporation scheme was microscopic in relation to the need. Although this microscopic relief was proposed, the commission clearly sought to impose still further burdens on the industry.