INTERFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 8

INTERFERENCE IN GOVERNMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The secretary to the Associated Chambers of Commerce denies that this body is inconsistent because it now advocates government. interference in business by dealing with the coupon system. His ' excuse is that his organisation only wishes existing legislation to be enforced. Your readers will, however, perceive that this is mere camouflage, for if the particular legislation implies government interference in business, and his body prays that it be enforced, it is taken for granted that government interference in business in this case is approved. If the Chambers of Commerce are so anxious that our statute laws should be rigidly obeyed and respected, why have they not supported and prayed for the enforcement of the Board of Trade Act? There is, of course, the usual nigger in the woodpile. In this case it consists of the fact that the Board of Trade Act deals with the suppression of monopolies and profiteering in food. The Chambers of Commerce_ regard this, of course, as "Government interference in business." The public, on the other hand, regard the Act as a protection against greedy commercialism and certain practices in business.

It is also noted that the Associated Chambers are becoming more careful of their -phraseology. They have now introduced the word "unnecessary" in front of their slogan, so that it now reads "unnecessary government interference in business.'* The addition of this word has, of course, become necessary since the chambers have been "found out" in their inconsistency. . . Who is to be the judge o£ "unnecessary" interference: the Government or the Chambers of Commerce? The latter have not been asked by the public to direct our legislation. May I ask, Mr. Editor, how much longer are we to be pestered by the views of so-called "influential deputations" to the Government? If we are to be governed by deputations, then such government will not bo democratic, because only those bodies of the public which can afford journeys and expenses in Wellington will have the main say. There is too much interference with government at present. It has been suggested that the Chambers of Commerce could well be placed in the pillory on a charge of "unnecessary interference in government business." The first Minister of the Crown to tell them this may lose some votes, but he will be the richer for the added respect of a large body of public opinion.—l am, etc., CRITIC. 10th December.