Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 15, 23 January 1948, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included •' for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters. PRICE CONTROL Sir, —It is well known that goods are less plentiful and prices are high and still increasing: it is likewise acknowledged that the solution, to the present problem is more production, to equate the demand with the spending power of the corhmunity. Experience has shown that the Price Tribunal has aggravated the position by its policy of Price Control, to the extent of protecting the consumer to a point where essential goods are not worth producing, and thereby creating a greater shortage, which in turn keeps prices' high.

If the producers of essential goods were allowed a reasonable return they would then be induced to concentrate on the production of these essentials. The non-essential or luxury lines would take second place in the production drive. Real shortages would then be overcome. In the clothing trade, particularly, at the present time a r greater profit margin is allowed on the luxury lines in an endeavour to keep down the price of the essentials. - This results in the production of the latter being curtailed and consequent shortages following on.

If, on the other hand, the essential goods which comprise the bulk of the trade turnover, were allowed a reasonable return resulting in a greater quantity being produced, retailers would soon reach the position of having stocks on their shelves, manufacturers would look to their laurels in regard to quality and prices and bringing about more goods at lower prices. This can only be achieved by the practical application of a justifiable, temporary control, to the extent of creating a healthy’ competition and eventually leading to the elimination of its own continued existence.

Thus, it can be seen how the operations of the Price Tribunal cause the very shortages and high prices which 'it originally set out to prevent. The Tribunal creates high prices by reason of penalising efficiency. The higher the costs of the inefficient manufacturer or retailer the higher mark up he is allowed. - Thus there is no incentive for low costs and the wage earning consumer pays the piper by way of high prices—the inevitable result of Socialistic . planning. Ymirc: plt* “COMMON SENSE”

THE INVISIBLE GOVERNMENT

Sir, —No matter the present talk of war between Russia and America: Their Governments mean the sarnie thing! The rape of the earth, the subordination of man to the machine, the exploitation of the liberty of the individual to the service of mass production. The dictatorship of Wall Street is no different from the dictatorship of the Kremlin. They know why bankers come bringing loans as “Aids” for distress. We have only to look at the plight of Britain and Communist France. We will not escape exploitation by siding with the Kremlin, and we do not avoid tyranny and poverty by siding with Wall Street.

Proof lies in the fact that whether it be Churchillism, Wall Street, Daltonism, or Communism, they all support the financial system that puts us in debt, and debt bondage for money, and collects the public income in taxation to get the rent, interest and profit on that debt, and to maintain the personal and collective bondage that goes with all debt. And if the Archangel Gabriel came down from heaven a*d served the Millenium on a golden platter you might believe all his promises, till he tells you that he runs the show on borrowing money, and taxing the inhabitants. For without the decentralisation of the public administration of the people’s credit, there is no difference between Kremlinism, Daltonism or Wall Street dollars, and debt control. Wall Street, for what it is! The invisible Government of the Western World, calling a family gathering from Moscow, to pick the bones of Eastern Europe, and undermining the British Nation through its financial administration. Thus it must be recognised, that the Marshall r l?lan means more bonds for bondage, and a change in our financial administration is urgently needed, and long overdue. Yours etc., W. BRADSHAW.