PLANNING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20423, 14 February 1938, Page 9

PLANNING

To the Editor) Sir.—Tn his letter in your issue of February 5 your correspondent “D. Rem.” quotes an unnamed leading authority as saying recently that “the blessed word ‘planned' covered whole sens of sloppy thinking.” Has it never occurred to “D. Dem.” or his “leading authority” that it is usually claimed that the personal success of big business men an dindustrial corporations is the direct result of organising ability and individual initiative —to wit, planning—and that this is deemed by many the soundest of arguments for not interfering further with private enterprise in its planning for self-aggrandisement ? But there is another side to the story, and it is intriguing to note that the British Government, composed of. roughly, 75 per cent, of men who avow themselves Conservatives, are dealing with the other side rather trenchantly, it has been noted ahat the British Government Intends to nationalise all the coalmines, an act which is tantamount to their saying; “You private enterprise planners have failed to organise the coal industry in the best interests of the nation, so we will do some planning on co-operative lines—call it Socialism if you like. Since you have failed, we are determined to trv to make a success of it.”

Recent cables inform us that, a huge scheme of slum clearance is to be put in hand quickly. Every reason-ably-minded person knows that the slums are almost directly due to the private enterprise concept, and the British Government has decided that slums have got to be cleared away, even if it docs mean more socialistic legislation. Shortly before bis death Sir Austen Chamberlain, in a moment of righteous indignation, said in the House of Commons: “If I had been compelled to live in the slums I should certainly have been a violent revolutionist.” ! Probably this rather violent outburst from such a man as Sir Austen was has affected the thinking of many members of the present British Government. Many people probably noted the published statement of Sir George Gillett, the commissioner appointed to do something for the rehabilitation of depressed areas. With your permission, Sir, I will quote a few of the statements he submitted in his report for the \ear ended September 30 of last year. (1) “All is not well with the areas, and there are still too many spots that have not yet. been touched. Rut hope has returned, and the areas general! v have shown themselves capable of recovery.” (2) “The greater part of the recovery has been independent of Die Government’s arma - ment programme.” (3) “Government factories (mark that.!) have been, or are being erected, in areas at a total cost of £15,536,000, and in addition the Government has contributed £1.750,000 towards extending existing factories.” And then we have this most important basic principle mentioned: (4) “It seems clear that social, strategic, as well as purely economic, causes will drive the Government of this country to abandon the laissezfaire attitude which was the prevailing doctrine up to a recent date.”

The laissez-faire doctrine—no interference with private enterprise—has of course been ignored often by most modern Governments, but it would seem as if the British Government of to-day is going to deal it a death blow. The argument that what is a good thing for the private manufacturer, industrialist, merchant, or big retailer, must of necessity benefit the whole nation, is not deemed sound by the present British Government at any rate. Their planning is based upon the repudiation of that concept, and In effect they say: “Consider what a mess your individualistic concept has got us in. Look at your slums, breeding revolutionists. Look at the depressed areas, which disgust and depress everybody who visits them. Consider the number of men unemployed (still over 1,600.000, according to the latest figures, l . In the interests of social, strategic and economic causes it is absolutely imperative that the Government does something to try and clear up the mess, even if we have to abandon theories which until recently have been deemed sacrosanct.” It was a Conservative, Lord Shaftesbury, who got the House of Commons to pass the first factory | Acts, and it would seem that the stress jof circumstance is driving ' I like that l word the present British Government to do some drastic planning of a purely socialistic nature in the interests of the whole nation. 1 would respectfully suggest to your correspondent “R. Dem.” that before writing further letters to your columns Me does a little quiet thinking. And may I add—and for others also—that I lie scriptural injunction: “Read. | mark, learn and inwardly digest.” is profound advice, and especially for those who desire to broadcast their views? —I am. etc., JOHN SYKES. Tauranga. February li.