TASK CONFRONTING BUSINESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21360, 1 June 1939, Page 13

TASK CONFRONTING BUSINESS

Responsibilities And Functions Regaining “Sceptre of Power ” Value of Practical Experience The principal speaker at the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night was Mr M. Myers, of Dunedin, president of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Mr Myers said that he had advised the secretary that he would take as his subject “Business—lts Functions and Responsibilities and its Relation to Politics.’’ As the days went by it seemed that he could have made his task an easier one, but having committed himself he would deal as broadly and impartially as he could with the subject of his own choice. “The Functions and Responsibilities of Business.” Before considering them they should remember that it was personnel that made business, so they should first give some thought to the men of business. During the last 25 years or so the conducting of business had demanded of business men greater intellect and character and greater knowledge and learning as distinguished from mere skill or shrewdness. Business men in general had come to regard their work as a trust—their duty being to see that every transaction was beneficial both to buyer and seller, to producer, to distributor, and to consumer alike.

Trade For Profit "Having regard to ethical standards and to public interest, the function of business is most definitely to trade for profit—for in the final analysis the measure of success of every commercial undertaking is still measured by its ability to earn profit,” said Mr Myers. With the growth of taxation in almost all countries it was now indeed almost a responsibility and a function of business everywhere to be efficient—to make profits—for it was largely on the taxation of profits that the modern State depended for its wherewithal to carry on. Business must not, however, be taxed beyond that point where initiative and enterprise become discouraged or the State would literally be killing the goose that laid many of its golden eggs. There were, he was afraid, many people so ill-informed and badly advised as to wish for the demise of this “goose,” for they were living in an age which questioned everything and commercial enterprise was nqw by np means exempt from criticism. Over Developed Opinion Mr Myers said that It appeared to many that in the development of business and industry some men had seemed to prosper beyond the measure of their service while others had appeared to be bound to toil over much and for insufficient reward. As a result of criticising these conditions and by demagogic appeals to the majority of electors, there had grown an over-developed public opinion along two lines: one, that men engaged in the larger business affairs were selfish and greedy and not to be trusted, that business activity was hardly moral and the whole system needed condemning—and the other that work which they classified as employment was a curse to mankind and that working hours ought to be greatly shortened.

Divergent Paths “Our citizens are to-day confronted with two divergent paths, one of which seeks to remedy existing social and economic ills by hasty and ill digested short routes: to a millenium of perfection,” said Mr Myers. Very many of the men and women who believed in and supported this theory considered that fundamental guarantees of constitutional liberty should be subordinated to some sleight-of-hand methods by which they might all enter a social and economic Garden of Eden. The other school of thought—generally labelled Conservative—believed just as strongly in justice and equity; had just as high ideals and was just as solicitous for the welfare of humanity as the more hurrying radical school. It seemed that if one was impartial and just—and too few were—the main difference between citizens holding these really similar views consisted largely in the rate of speed and methods to be pursued in reaching their goal. As' business men, the majority would, he thought, be classified as Conservative and many of the political happenings and legislative enactments of the last three and a-half years could not be, m their judgment. In the best interests of all the people in the long run. “What then is—or should be—the relationship between business in its broad sense and politics in its broadest sense?” asked Mr Myers. Whatever political party was in power the function and responsibility of all businesses was to try to carry on effectively, efficiently, and profitably. For the following reasons business was now set no easy task. They must, he, thought, admit that legislative enactments governing trade and business were necessary—and probably would be increasingly necessary—with the ever greater complexities of modern existence, but their complaint was that of recent years the distinguishing characteristic of the period had been the conduct of the Government of rhe Dominion by men who had had but little previous concern with the business of the country—by men who actually distrusted the man of business and held him suspect. The presumed self interest of the business man had caused his voice to be rejected in the counsels of the Government even though he might be mast greatly affected by major legislative enactments. Similarly, in the sphere of finance, the testimony of bankers had not been accepted because they, too, were held to be interested parties. Likewise with manufacturers, farmers, doctors—knowledge of their own spheres of activity had, he sincerely believed, disqualified them from being asked to take part in the con-

duct of the increasing participation jf the Government in the control and direction of their respective affairs. Sceptre of Power “Speaking of and for business, it would therefore appear necessary to regain something of the sceptre of power that its position warrants,” said Mr Myers. “Whether that be brought about by an awakening of feeling in the majority of citizens that affairs are now so complicated and specialised that any Government must consist of a goodly number of men with such experience or whether it be brought about as the result of those with political responsibility to-day being brought to recognise the necessity to seek and often take advice on business and professional matters from those who, by qualification and practical experience, can help seems to me to be immaterial as far as the broad relationship of business and poltlics is concerned. It is a personal matter to determine which course each individual favours. Let us, however, hope that during the new year upon which your Chamber is now entering many of our present difficulties will be solved and some of them as the result of disinterested help being asked for—freely given—and taken from business and professional men in the community whose experience and advice must ultimately be recognised as being essential for the effective functioning of true democratic government.” The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.