17. A nation such as ours can stand being told the truth
and can be depended on to follow a clear call to their in
telligence and energy to meet a national crisis. That a
crisis exists cannot be denied.
18. Economy in Government, economy in municipal
and local administration is urgently necessary.
19, Industry as the patient beast of burden is on the
verge of collapse. The responsibility for the continuance of
the present burdens is grave indeed.
20. The Engineering Industry is a finishing industry.
In the purchase of its materials, it has to carry burdens
accumulated in every branch of industry contributing to the
supply of these materials—coal, iron and steel, transport,
etc.—as to wages. local rating and national taxation.
21. The Industry is therefore under a twofold disability.
It has to look after its own economy and it has to accept all
the ‘‘ pre-charges ’’ created for it by the earlier stages of
manufacture even on an uneconomic basis.
22. All industries are interrelated and it is the duty of
all to contribute to the solution of present difficulties.
23. Particularly is this so in the case of the sheltered or
non-exporting industries, municipal and other public bodies.
These, being freed from the burden of foreign competition or
being in the position of spending public monies, are not
conscious of the cares of economic production and pay little
heed to the sources from which the money they spend must
be found. They create for competitive industry burdens
which can only be justified by the presumption that they
occupy a position entitling them to preferential treatment
at the hands of the nation as a whole.
24. The whole nation is living beyond its means. The
standard and mode of living which have grown up in recent
years have outrun the national income and will require to be
brought back to their proper relation.
25. If any change in the present fiscal system should
result in an improvement in trade and thereby create a new
source of revenue the amount so accruing to the National
Treasury should not be regarded as available for further
extravagances, but used for the liquidation of existing
commitments.
