CONTROL OF INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 7

CONTROL OF INDUSTRIES

DISTASTEFUL TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. . The Acting-Prime - "Minister of Austral lia» Sir Joseph Cook, speaking In Sydudy a few days ago, declared that the control of industries was distasteful to the Federal Government, and what was done in that direction was in response to the expressed wish of the people. No Government with any sense at all would have anything to do with such control if it could help it, the Minister said. His Government would much prefer to have nothing to do with it. If the people wanted the Government to cease controlling the markets, however, they must cease asking for it. No Government other than an anarchist or Bolshevik one, would of its own accord insist on undertaking control. But his Government was frequently asked to do it. He noticed that only the other day at the Fruitgrowers’ Conference it was stated that it would be necessary to ask the Government to help in gathering tho fruit and in marketing it. Control of markets was a very far-reaching and dangerous question. It might even mean an appeal to the electors. Because the Victorian Government had not given what was asked for in regard iff wheat they had been defeated, and had to go to the country. The Federal Government was asked by the woolgrowers to prohibit the export of wool, and greatly against his own private wishes the Bill was put through. By the control of coal the people of Australia had been able to get supplies at a price much lower than they otherwise would have done. The price overseas was per ton, nnd it would have been correspond-* ingly high here. The Government was only too anxious to get rid of these controls, however, and the people should cease asking for them.