TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 880, 28 July 1910, Page 6

TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

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HEJTARKS.BY THE PREMIER

Speaking oil behalf of the Trades Council Conference) .yesterday, the Hon. J. T. Paul,' M.L.C., strongly urged upon tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward): the advisableneSs of nationalising monopolies as thoy arose. Ho stated that .it had been found that tliD increments in wages wliich the workers had secured had been absorbed as tho result of the growth of combines in this country. In tho past the State had entered into various businesses with tho object of breaking down rates, and what was desired was ■ that that policy should bo extended.

In reply, Iho Prirao Minister declared that ho regarded the matter as of the first .importance in tho interest? of tho whole .community. . The pooplo required to he protected against tho growth of undesirable, monopolies brought about by combinations which raised prices of commodities above their fair value. As •he had previously indicated, it was intended to bring down anti-trust legislation this session -which it was hoped would.prove effective...The Government recognised that where an effort was being made to get excessive prices out of consumers in New Zealand, it ought to bo stopped. There were some things which were undeniably growing into the condition of an evil which required to be grappled with. It would not bo possible to meet the position, in his opinion, in tho way some pooplo suggested, for many years at any rate, i.e.-, by the nationalisation of mononolies. It was beyond question that tfio Government could not nationalise all tho coal-mines, for that would mean. borrowing a largo sum of money. Nor could this country nationalise all tho means of production, as the same remark would apply. Nor could the Government nationalise' all tho means of distribution without very heavy borrowing. lie did not wish to mislead anybody as to their policy on tho matter.. In drafting.-anti-trust legislation, there were two matters which they had to keep before them:' they required to make it impossible for the people to be imposed on by trusts, whilst allowing complete freedom to traders—big and small—who did not want to combine.. Both of these principles were essential to anti-trust legislation, and that was what the Government would propose. The Government wanted to see trade increase, but' it also wanted to keep out that canker of monopolistic combines which in. other countries had worked -adversely and in an extraordinary degree 'to the detriment of tho workers.

"I think that we will succeed with out legislation on tins point," Sir Joseph added.