HALT DEMANDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 11

HALT DEMANDED

SOCIALISATION AIMS

DOMINION INDUSTRY BUSINESSMEN PROTEST GOVERNMENT POLICY (For Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Determination to halt the socialisation of industry in New Zealand and to demand a modification of the Government’s policy, was voiced by a mass deputation to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day. The deputation, which was the largest ever received by the chamber, was representative of all sections of the business community. Mr. J. Howie said that during recent years the Cabinet and various administrative departments of State had been armed by Parliament with exceedingly high powers' over every branch of the industrial and commercial life of the Dominion.

The outbreak of the war had been made an occasion for an intensification of activities along the lines indicated. Businessmen were anxious to co-operate with the Government. "We have always been loyal, lawabiding citizens,” said Mr. Howie. "We submit, however, that some of the measures introduced by the Government are putting it out of our power to render the maximum contribution of which we are capable. The restrictions, interference, regimentation and control to which each and all of us have been subjected have made it well-nigh impossible for us to conduct our businesses in anything, even faintly resembling a normal manner.”

After, a lively discussion, it was decided to appoint a committee consisting of four representatives of the deputation, four from the chamber and two to be invited from the Farmers’ Union, with power to add and to meet immediately to decide what representations should be made to the Cabinet.