PRICE FIXATION

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

PRICE FIXATION

—Press Association.)

"Former U.S. Senator's Stroiig Disapproval COMPETITION NECESSARY

(By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, Thia day. Strong views disapprpving of Government regulation of internal trade ure held by Mr. Samuel E, Eriekson, a former United States Senator for 13 years, wfeo was an arrival at Wellington by the Wanganella from Sydney yesterday, He xetired 10 years ago, and has since oceupibd himself with Cpntipual worjd travelling. He has jseen mqst countries, but this is his first visit to New Zealand. Mr. Eriekson said in an interview that he was totally opposed to price fixation ,in any form, and held that, althpugh Government intervention iu epmmerce, both domestic and internacional, was deemed by many to be neeessary in this age, the maxim that eqmpetition was the life pf trade was still sqund ecqnomics and plain common sense. Governments, he contend«4» ipterfered far too much in trade, reptricting its fiow and hafting enterprise. If a trader or maufacturer was willing to sell a few cents cheaper than hia competitGi's required, why should he not do sof he asked. The standard of living in Australia, (said Mr. Eriekson, was higher than 4n fhe United StSates. Australianp were very fine people, but they occupiel themselves overmuch with politics. Erom wbat he had heard New Zealand wais a wonderful country. He would do all in hjs power to advertise it in the United States.