INTERFERENCE BY THE STATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 53, 18 March 1937, Page 5

INTERFERENCE BY THE STATE

— Press Asaooiation.)

Business Man's Warning taNX "CONSERVE F1NANCES"

(By Telejraph

AUUxLLAiNJJ, March 17. A warning that there was grave danger of collapse of New Zealand 's pre* sent prosperity and that the money now beihg spent on publie works should be consprved so that men could be absorbed in time of crisis, was given to-day by Mr. M. G. C. McCaul, Wellington, president of the Associatecj Chamber of Comcnerce. With the object oi explaining to Auckland business men the thoughts running through the minds of business men in Wellington concerning past and future Laboux le'gislation, Mr. McCaul is making a special visit to Auckland and he hopes to - be able to explaia on his return to Wellington the attitude of Auckland business men, Mr. McCaul deqlared that the Dominion was first jand foremost dependent on overseas trade. Earmers and city people were dependent entirely on the prosperity of New Zealand 's customers overseas, that is, upon the spending power of the working people overseas. They were the people who ate New Zealand 's butter, chpese and cneat and wore the clothes made from New Zealand wool. "In my view we should close down as tightly as posstble on Publie Works witfe the object of conserving our finances. Earimers at11 present are crying out for labour and therefpre there is not the necessity at the present time for large employment on Publip Works, but when a crisis eopma it will be the duty of the Publie Works Department to absorb as much labour as possible. Only works of absolute necessity should be undertaken in tlmes of prosperity, so that in times of depression the Pub? Jic Works Department could provide work for large numbers Qf men. That would irpn out the creases between prosperity and depreBsion.,l Eefexenee to State interference in business was made by Mr. McCaul. It was the duty of the gtate to govern, he said, If an individual did wrong it was the duty of the State to punish him. If a pickle cnanufacturer produced and sold bad pickles to the publie it was the duty. of the State to Btop him and safegnard the publie. But it was not the duty of the State to make pickles itself. The State should regu? late trade but- not trade itself.