THE FESTIVE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 20 October 1919, Page 6

THE FESTIVE BOARD

MERCHANTS' PEACE DINNER

"PROFITEERING" AND

POLITICS

A. "peaco dinner" given by the wholesale provision merchants of Wellington the retailers was held in the Concert i Chamber of the Town Hall 011 Saturday evening. , Mr. James Mirr presided nvpr a gathering that comfortably filled tho chamber.

When tho loyal toast had been' dulyhonoured, the chairman proposed "Our Commercial Interests." He explained that thb gathering was to be regarded as an expression of thankfulness for the cessation of hostilities, and as; a welcome back to those members of the provision trade who had been on active service. During tho last two years tJin retail section of the trade had held two smoke concerts at which the wholesalers had been very welcome. The advantage of returning the compliment afforded him great pleasure. The time was oppoitune to draw the members ol the distributing trado more closely together and also to reach a better understanding with tho consuming public. There was never a time in the history of tho trade when the need for concerted action was more pressing than at present. "On all sides," said Mr. Muir, "we are assailed by the unthinking public as profiteers, noid unless we tnko some steps, to prove that this is undeserved as" far as provision trade is concerned, we cannot well resent the public feeling. I can truthfully say there, is not a business that works on such a small margin of profit or is called upon to take the same risks as the provision trade. Through popular clamour, the legislators have recently pa&sed an Act of Parliament called the Board of Trade Bill, which puts far-reaching and drastic powers into the hands of those who aro charged with tho administration. Those who are conversant with the clauses of tho Bill realise its danger, as its object is to limit the percentage that is charged on all lines. No opportunity is to be afforded traders of increasing the percentage of profit on certain lines so as to make good the low prices at which such lines as sugar, korosene. etc., are sold. Everything depends 011 the point of view taken by those who arp in charge of administration.' Taking it all together, a very grave danger exists for those who are''concerned in the general trade of the colony,': and I must candidly state that I think we are in for troublous times."

Mr. H. D. Bennett (president of the Retailers' Association) responded With, the celebration, of peace, lie said, one's mind turned to the memory of those ivlio had fallen. One was reminded hlsn of the duty of helping those who had returned. A tremendous lay npon the citizens of this country. Was the country goin» to rise to it and' succeod in meeting the conditions that were tho aftermath of war? It was impossible to go back to the old days, and, money had to-be found somehow. It was clear that wo could not ease taxation unless lye increased our exports. To maintain matters as they had before the war would necessitate our doing an annual export trade of about iG80,000,00<). Increased production alono,, could help the country to bear its burdens; and that message should be spread broadcast. Tho co-operation of Labour -was essential to success. The Labour leaders should give more thought to the important part that capital necessarily took in turning the wheels of industry. It was imperative that representative meetings of the commercial interests should have a voice in tho-pre-paration of such Bills as the Board of Trade Bill. It. 6eemed that once the Government had put its hand to price fixing the commercial community could have no say nnd no redress. The remedy was in the hands of the commercial peoplc—they should send commercial men to Parliament. (Applause.) Speaking of "profiteering," Mr. Bennett .said'that if the business interests adopted the tactics of the wharf labourer, the price of certain goods would not be what it was to-day, but would be three times The question of what it would cost the seller to replnce •on article should be borne in mind by buyers iflio criticised the price at which tho soller ottered the article. No man present would obfect for a moment to the roab "profiteer"—the man who created corners and such things—being drastically dealt with. There wns much talk of a rapprochement between Capita 1 and Labour. The present position,- ho believed, certainly could not persist. .To meet the tasks ahead It '«as imperative that sound commercial men should be sent to Parliament. 1 Mr. I f . W. Manton 'proposed "Our Guests." He emphasised the need for unity in every branch and trade of industry; and 110 also criticised the Government for having put through, with.out consulting the commercial interests, a Bill vitally affecting those 'interests. The wholesalers and the retailers, he urged, should band themselves together to fight disturbing elements in'the politics of the country. They had a voice and a, soul—and they were going to see that they got business 1 men into Parliament to represent them. , Mr. J. F. Redmond, Mr. J. Burley, and Captain A. V. H. Monro made the response Other toasts honoured were; "The Wholesale Houses," "The Manufacturers," "Tho N.Z.E.F.," and "The Travellers." Musical and other items were given by a number of performers during the evening.