PLACE AFTER WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22513, 23 November 1944, Page 9

PLACE AFTER WAR

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE POLICY STATEMENT WANTED (Special to Times) PALMERSTON N., Thursday “We well know that we are still a country at war, but no real attempt is being made to indicate the broad nature of the economic set-up that is to operate in New Zealand post-war,” said the president, Mr Stronach Paterson, in his address to the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce last night. “It is the duty of the Government to let the people know clearly and definitely its indentions as to the future of private enterprise—to tell t;s the part private enterprise is to play, and to clear away the fog of uncertainty which | envelops the subject, j “The extensive war-time controls 'and restrictions on private enterprise , have been accepted temporarily, but ! there is a notable absence of any declaration by the Government that private enterprise has been, and must continue to be in the post-war years, the mainspring of economic activity, and that private enterprise is to be encouraged to grow strong and efficient since it is to be expected to provide the major share of employment. “We do not want Government assistance in planning our businesses and our post-war developments; we can plan our own, but we do want, early and clearly, a blue print as to what private enterprise is to be allowed to do. “To date we have been informed j by the Government that it is impossible to say yet what conditions are to operate in the post-war period. While this is understandable in some directions, it is largely an avoidance of the issue. The Associated Chambers has been clarifying some of these matters for itself.”