BUREAUCRATS AND STATE MARKETING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 35, 4 November 1937, Page 9

BUREAUCRATS AND STATE MARKETING

■Preas Aaaociation.)

Extension of System Opposed COMMERCE CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph-

TIMARU, Last Night. Members of the Dominion 's Chambers of Commerce assembled in Timaru to-day for the annual conference, the representatiom totalling approximately 40. The president, Mr. G. C. McCaul, presided. A civic reception was accorded the delegates when the Mayor, Mr. P. C. Yinnell, extended a wclcome, his words being" supplemented by Mr. W. M. Sexton, president of the South Canterbury Chamber. A lengthy programme has been arranged, which will keep the delegates busy during 'their stay in Timaru, whilst a considerable number of remits, lorne of more than ordinary importance, svill come up for discussion. In moving the remit: "That while entirely opposed to Government marketing this conference considers it essential that there shoold.be no further extension of the system without the assent of a substantial majority of the producers concerned," Mr. A. Seaman (Auckland) said that offsetting any benefit of Government control they had the dangers of control by bureaucrats largely untrained in the particular business and subject to political meddling and interf erence and the jettisoning of those who'from a lifetime study and experience were best able to advisa and guide. ""We were and are opposed to the Government marketing Of produce and we are still looking for benefits from that scheme that might make us wish for an extension to other classes of produce." If, however, those in charge of the affairs of the Dominion shall be determined despite the hazards of the dairy produce experimont, to extend the scope of .Government marketing activities, a measure of elementary justice was called for, Regimentation was tolerable if not forced and they considered and urged on the Government that in any further move of this character it should seek to ascertain the wishes of that particular body of produceers and should not impose npon them a compulsory adherence to marketing projects unless the scheme had the approval of the substantial majority of the producers. Mr. C, Calvert . (Dunedin) opposed the remit, considering it far too sweeping, and.suggested that the conference was not in favour of such sweeping action. He favoured no further extension of the Bystem, however. . Mr. S. Wright (Christchurch) argued that everyone . in the community was Tequally interested in marketing and he r would not ljke it to be thought that because the producers opposed State marketing everything was all right. Mr. - J. Richards (Stratford) saw a grave danger in the ineffieiency of departmental officers handling primary produce and in the handling of a huge amount of produce in value there would arise great opportunities for corruption. He would not say there was corruption, but it might arise. Thirdly, there was the political risk. The president suggested that the word * 'while" be altered to "being,"; and that the resolution finish at the word "system. " Auckland acceptedl the amendment and the Temit was' earried unanimously. "That this conference is of opinionj that the heavy structure of annual ex-' penditure being erected hy the Government represents a potential danger in the event of a fall in the Dominion 's export income, ' ' was a remit moved by Mr. C. Hamilton (Christchurch) who paid taxation this year was 5.6 per cent. greater than last year, and it looked as if the Government was taking more and mOre from the people without building any reserves. Mr. Newman (Dunedin): We are a bit old-fashioned in Dunedin and we believe we are not able to take more out of the bank than we put in. The remit was earried unanimously. The Public Works policy of the Government was attacked in a remit from ' Wellington, Mr. P. Pattrick asserting that in time of prosperity it •hould not be necessary to spend so „much on unemployment. Public Works policy should be ono of prosperity equalisation. The conference agreed that in times , of prosperity, the gtate should refrain from works other than those urgently necessary qr economically productive and in times of depressiob. there should be a planned programme, thus levelling the peaks of prosperity and depression.