WANTED-A NEW ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 7

WANTED-A NEW ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Sir,—With reference to a letter signed "X" in a recent issue, I wish to associate myself with the idea, expressed therein. I also appreciate the spirit of "Progress's" letter, and recognise the necessity for such, but at tho same time I am convinced that energy directed towards palliatives for a system which is at roo,t a. denial of justice is wasted. Perhaps •'Progress" recognises this fact, but while he lias stressed the necessity for a careful consideration of the various economic and social problems I wish to point out the fact that any person today striving to formulate schemes for the progress of his country must first of all consider the advisability of constructing an entirely now economic system.

To-day the practical result of schemes, good in themselves, is very often bad, and means no advantage to the community, or if any advantage only a very small part of the advantage which might result were our system based on justice. As proof of this I would draw your attention to the ferry service. Let me give you an example of the injustice of our modern economic system. The following is a Press Association telegram of March 2fi:—

"Great uneasiness was felt in the Main Trunk firo area that the prices of timber would be increased owing to the almost clean sweep of the sawmills. Settlers appealed to Mr. R. AV. Smith, member of Parliament for Waimarino, and yesterday he waited on Mr. JI. M. Carpenter, manager of the Rangitikei Sawmills Association, who assured Mr. Smith that the local sawmills would not take such a mean advantage. Timber prices would not bo increased."

The following, written by the special correspondent of, the "Otago Daily Times," nppeared 'in the issue of that journal dated May 29:—,

"Since' the big fires ' at Raetihi, in which a number of the biggest mills in the North Island were destroyed, there has been a marked shortage of timber. . . . When the northern mills were burned out there,was * scramble for timber with which to rebuild such of them as were to be reopened, and dealers who had lost their stocks rushed to obtain as much timber as could be received. This extraordinary demand, and the short supply, have caused two or three recent increases in the price of all lines of timber."

Hero is an instance where the people | were exploited to the tune of hundreds of pounds by a chance given the sawmillers as a result of tho fire. Of course the action of the timber merchants was perfectly natural, although not justifiable from the point of view of tho welfare of the community. With the State in the place of the timber merchants, thore bein? no necessity for an advance, this would not have occurred. The solution is solf-evident—the industry should bo made a State monopoly. And here, I submit, is the key to. the economic problem, and to tho construction of the new order. Extend the same principle to every' industry, and the advancement of New Zealand is assured.

Of courso_ the public-spirited citizen seeing heroin Hie solution will look round for the political party which embodies these propo.sn.ls in its platform. The moral passion that "Progress" has attempted to arouse, together with the above practical proposals, should mean much for the progress of Now Zealand — I am, etc., RADICAL.