The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1912. A FARCICAL COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1450, 27 May 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1912. A FARCICAL COMMISSION.

Apparently tho Mackenzie Ministry has decided to throw discretion completely to the winds. It has during its brief existence shown itself ready to seize on every pretext that has presented itself to laid for popularity in a desperate endeavour to win or buy political support, and seemingly it has set no bounds to the lengths it is prepared to go in order to retain its precarious and unconstitutional clutch on office. Its members have careered about the country at, the public expense, neglecting their administrative duties in the hope of popularising themselves with the people. Promises which, if given effect to, would make serious inroads on the finances of the country have been made with a seeming indifference to all other considerations than the immediate welfare _ of the Ministry. Royal Commissions are being set up under conditions which render it impossible that they shall achieve the ends which_ the_ Government profess to have in view, and nvury trick and device that can be thought of is being tried to delude the public and lido the Ministry over the .session of Parliament now drawing near. A more brazen and deliberate attempt to fool the people than that which lies behind the ludicrous Commission of Inquiry into the Cost of Living, which has now been set up by the Mackenzie Ministry would be difficult to conceive. Ou Saturday last we directed attention to the weakness of the order of reference restricting the investigations of the Civil Soi-vicu Commission, and lo the absurdity of expecting such an inquiry to be carried out in the brief time allotted—less than one month —but the position is infinitely worse in I he case of this later Commission, The /icrziwtirl of the Commission, to begin with, is most unsatisfactory. The question is not one for narrow treatment. Solution—if it is to be found—of the problem of how to reducs the cofct- of living is mH, to b discovered bv a mere scratching of

the surface by men who have made no special study of economic questions. And whom amongst tin: Commissioners appointed—outside, perhaps, of Mil. TtIEGF.Att, whose views on Socialism are too well known to leave any doubt as to his ideas on the subject—can be quoted as any sort of an authority / What chance is there of such a Commission ever [yetting down to bedrock causes and finding a remedy I None at all.

But where the farcical nature of the proposed inquiry can be most easily recognised is in the order of reference, and in the time allowed fur investigation, deliberation, and report. Let us look at some of the questions submitted to the Commission and the nature of the inquiry that will be necessary before any attempt even can be made to answer them. The Commission first of all is ordered to inquire: 1. Has the cost of living increased in New Zealand during Ihe past twenty years? If so, has tluit increase been more marked during the la-t ten than during the previous ten yearsf 2. Has that_ increase, if any, been more marked in New Zealand than in other English-speaking countries ? Here it will be seen inquiry not only has to be made "covering a period of 20 years in New Zealand—or, to be more correct, two separate periods of ten years each—but the Commissioners are instructed lo inquire also into the extent of the increase in the cost of living in other English-speak-ing countries, for the purposes of comparison. How is it possible to even pretend to do this in less than one month ? By the time the Commission gets togetner and settles down to work it probably will not have three weeks loft in which to make its inquiries. It has to be borne in mind, moreover, that two of the Commissioners are also members of Parliament, and therefore will have their time fully occupied with their Parliamentary duties when the House assembles at the end of June. The Commission, therefore, cannot continue its sittings after the date specified, June 25, even if it desired, unless it goes on without the members in question, or adjourns until after Parliament rises. But, as we pointed out in the case of the Civil Service Commission, the whole thing is a sham, and is merely intended to give the Ministry an opportunity when Parliament meets of making the pretence that they have been really doing something practical since they crept, into office on a minority vote some two months ago. Take some of the other questions submitted to the Commission for inquiry :

To what extent have monopolies, combines, trusts, and othoi* associations of manufacturers or sellers of the necessaries of life contributed to the rise in prices? To what extent, if any, has 'he vise in the price of hind, during the past twenty years, contributed to the rise in the price of commodities? What ofleet has the demand for Ne'.v Zealand products- beyond the Dominion had on prices of such commodities? What effect, if any, has the Labour legislation had on the increaso in the prices of the commodities of life? What influence, if any, has the value of gold had on the cost of living? What effect have the movements of the urban and rural populations had on the cost of living? What causes generally have brought about Hie increased cost of .'iving? What steps should be taken with a view to reducing the cost of the neccssaries of life?

Does any sane man or woman believe that this Commission is capable of investigating and answering onehalf, or one-fourth, or even any of these questions in an authoritative way within the time specified ? "What influence, if any, has the value of gold had on the cost of living!" "What effcct have the movements of the urban and rural populations had on 1..3 cost of living !" Who would attach any value whatever to the opinions of this Commission on such questions'! The whole thing is a farce, and everyone connected with it must know it. The Ministry, however, hope to convey the impression that by setting up this Commission they are doing something which will be of material benefit to the mass of the people. It is a trick, and a shabby one. It will oost the country a great deal of money which will be almost entirely wasted. The only good purpose it is likely to serve is to show the people of the Dominion the utter insincerity of, and the hollow sham this stop-gap Ministry really is.