TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1904, 12 November 1913, Page 6

TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

The Legislature has deemed itnecessary to protect, the public against oppression or exploitation by commercial trusts or combines, and it has been universally recogniscd as a wise and necessary step to take. There, are, of course, combinations of commercial and manufacturing interests which are not prejudicial to the public, but, on the contrary, they enable the cheaper production, and handling of goods and manufactures, and so benefit the buyer and consumer. But the Commercial Combine which seeks to prey on the public by creating a monopoly to the injury of the community is made illegal and is liable to heavy penalties. In tlie Act- of 1910 a Commercial Trust is defined as number of persons creating or maintaining in New Zealand a monopoly whether complete or partial in the supply or demand of any goods; or acting with any such object. Clause 4of the same Act makes it an offence for any person who attempts to penalise another for refusing to join a Trust or obey the wishes of a Trust in the matter of the purchasd or sale of its goods. In other words there is a penalty for intimidation and oppression. Clause- S reads as follows:

Any person who conspires with any other person to monopolise wholly or partially the demand or supply in NeaZealawl, or any part tlwreof, of any goods, or to control wholly or partially the demand l dt supply or price in New Zealand or any part- thereof of any goods, is guilty of an offence if such monopoly or control is of such a nature as to be contrary to the public- interest.

No one we think has ever disputed the justice of these provisions. Commercial Trusts and Combines contrary to the public interest call for the intervention ol the State for the protection of the public. This being the case, is it not equally right that the State should protect tho people against Labour Trusts and Combines'prejudicial to the interests of the public? Legitimate trades unionism is not injurious to the public; but can it he iU'gued for one moment that- such a combine as tho Federation of Labour has sought to establish is not a menace and a danger to the whole community? Is there a more evil Trust in New Zealand at the present time, than this Labour Trust which not only uses its combine tc paralyse the trade and commerce of 'the country, but goes still further and attempts to intimidate by threats and violence all who dare to oppose its machinations ? Heavy penalties are provided to deter Commercial Trusts from victimising trades who refuse to submit to their dictation regarding the sale of their goods; but this great Labour Trustis permitted to intimidate"and victimise those who desire to exercise their right to sell their labour at a fair price. Is that just? A Commercial Trust is prevented by the law of the land from attempting to rob a shopkeeper or trader of the right, to buy and sell in fair competition with'his fellows, but the Federation of Labour, the greatest Trust in the country, can with impunity rob men of the right to work save at tho risk of insult and injury. As we have said, trades unionism which relics on law and reason is legitimate and should be encouraged—it represents a. legiti.iiwte Combine ftW' the purpose oi' colkctivc Irartrainias, But toe- methods.

of 'the Red Federation are those of the worst form of Trust or Combine and aro opposed to the interests of tho whole community. We would again direct.the attention of the Government to the necessity of protecting citizens against this or any, other Labour Trust which seeks by intimidation and terrorism to rob citizens of the free exereisc of tTicir rifjht to work. The means by which this could be accomplished we have already stated; and the quotations from the Commercial Trusts Act of 1910, given above, afford precedent, if such were needed, for passing the neccssary legislation to safeguard the liberty of the worker and to protect the interests of the public.