STRONG PROTEST MADE

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1946, Page 5

STRONG PROTEST MADE

— Press Association

use of Taxpayers ioney NEW PETROL CONCERN

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. A protest against the action of che Government in putting the- taxpayers' money into the oil business was made today at an exeeutive meeting of the Associated Chamoers of Commerce. It was made plain by the meeting that it had no objection whatever go the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company entering the field in New Zealand, but it strongly objected to the Government taking a financial interest in the concern. It was not as if any such action by the Government was necessary to meet a pressing need in the Dominion, and members could see in the move a deliberate step toward the political objective of nationalisation of transport. Objection was also voiced at the, meeting to such a matter being , brought before the House in the dyin°" hours of the session, and to the method proposed to be followed by the Government. The Government was ever ready to criticise private enterprise for not observing the rules of the game, yet here the Government was setting aside its own laws of industrial regulation to suit its own purpose. It was the worker not the big interests who would suffer in consequence. • The announcement of the details of the scheme appears on page 7.