The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 1926. GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 1926. GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

An Auckland paler, an avowed supporter of the Reform Party, makes reference to Government iiitertcrcnec in regard to the meat trade in the following terms: “V lieu doubt is raised about allowing truiislers ol meat export licenses, as with the Wellington Meat Export Company, a very <•01 lain consequence -seems to he forgotten. When the Poverty Bay Fanners’ Meat- Company lost its works through the action of a creditor, the episode was doM-rikod by a number of tho.se interested as a very evil thing. Yet the hank which had permitted the companly to get into its debt lor a very heavy sum did so, it must he assumed, in the belief that the concern was saleable in the open market. It was sold to the highest bidder after determined efforts to meet its obligations had failed. The Wellington Company proposes to accept what is doubtless the best offer it can find. If the transaction is forbidden, what will be the inference? Simply that meat works are not good security, since their sale in the open market is hedged round with severe restrictions.” This action of the Government in seeking to hedge round marketing with severe restrictions is not confined to the meat trade only. It is to he seen in various directions—so many indeed that it seems part of the accepted policy of the Government to go on interfering with legitimate trading and industry. Tt comes up in the control of dairying products, and regulating markets affecting wheat growing. Tt has been in practice very stringently in regard to the timber trade. And there is very little .sign of the Government letting up its grip. We do not feel that this rigorous interference is good for the country as a whole. The restriction must block obviously the flow of capital into the Dominion. There is so much insecurity about the degree of interference to which the Government will go that it is an open secret in some industries that large undertakings have liwn turned down bora use those with the capital were afraid to launch out. The new Prime Minister, we believe, has some opinions on the subject, because h? has been talking about more business in Government administration and loss

Government in lnisinet&. A survey of tlio position to-day when finance is obviously the first question affecting the welfare of the Dominion, it does appear a retrograde step to find Departments imposing all kinds of restrictions which restrict production and lessen the scope and value of the lahour employed in the country. Instead of this restrictive policy, this failure to giw? the forces of supply ami demand free play, we should e pert- the opposite, that production, more production, and still more production would ho the order of the day. But it seems to please tho.se directing tho Departments to mould a policy which is not only retarding production, hut is preventing expansion so greatly needed by the country as a whole, with harassing restrictions and prohibitions that suggest a total absence of common-sense in directing State affairs. What the Auckland paper says about meat works not being good security, applies with equal truth to sawmilling. There is a great sense of insecurity because of the limit to production bv restricting the market. As matters stand there can he no great development in milling such as there should he—due entirely to Government interference founded on quite mistaken policy, as it is evident also in the attitude affecting the meat works, let the two industries combined rank as flic most important producers in wages distributed of the whole Dominion.