DRIFTING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 11

DRIFTING

GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

AT COST OF PUBLIC

(By Taxpayers' Federation).

When, Mr. Eamsay Mac Donald, the Labour Prime Minister in the Imperial Parliament, deprecates 'Government interference with private business, surely it is time politicians hero began thinking seriously of removing the outrageous restrictions and obligations that have rested upon tlio manufacturers and traders of this country practically from (.he beginning of the Great War down to the- present time. Similar restrictions and obligations were imposed in other countries involved in the war; but they, were removed within four; or five years of the declaration of peaco and trade and commerce were allowed to resume their former course. It is through no omission on the part of business men of the Dominion that- they are left with the menace of interference and loss constantly jefore them. Again and again they have called the attention .of the' Government to the freedom restored to business men in other countries. Again and again promises have been' given ihat the obnoxious clauses would be repealed. The character of ; these clauses may be briefly summarised: — The Minister of Industries and Commerce, representing the Government, is given absolute author- • ity, (1) to prevent and suppress auy method of competition or trading or business lie thinks unfair or prejudicial to the public welfare; (•J) to suppress monopolies and combinations in relation to any industry; (3) to fix maximum or minimum prices or rates for any class of goods or services; (4) to prohibit, regulate or control such goods or services, and (5) to xegulate and control industries in any other manner whatever. For both the late Government and for the present Government it may be said they were hardly pressed' by other matters when the need for the revision of the Board of Trade Act was iirged upon them. It also may be said that when the perils of such legislation were pointed out to them the respective ministers gave an assurance that the clauses to which objection was taken would not be put into oporation, and that, as speedily as possible they would bo repealed altogether. This, however, was merely a palliative, which might be easily renounced by a new Government coming into office. ' It has been suggested that tho third party in the present House of Representatives is anxious to retain tho existing law in its entirety in orcler that it may be available when its turn to tho possession of the Treasury Benches comes round. It is unbelievable, howover, that any party would be ready to place tho destiny of the whole trade and commerce of the Dominion in tho hands of a, single individual. It is certain that no section of the community, awaro of tho facts, would tolerate such arrangement. Commonsense is not an attribute confined to tho followers of any particular party creed; - ■ ■ ■ ■ '