BOARD OF TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1928, Page 4

BOARD OF TRADE

LEGACY FROM AVAR

A UTOURAITC POWERS

(Taxpayer)

The Cost of Living Act, placed upon the Statute Book by the National Government in the second year of tlio final 'War, was designed to protect' the public from exploitation by soulless speculators and greedy profiteers. It involved the appointment of a Board of Trade clothed with wide powers of investigation and supervision and required the Board to report to the Government with suggestions and recommendations. On the whole the Act served its purpose fairly well. A year after the conclusion of the war, in 1910, the Board of Trade was placed upon a permanent basis with greatly extended functions, and it exercised these tunctions until 1923, when it was superseded by tho Minister of Industries and Commerce, representing the Government, with practically unbridled authority. Under the amended Act, which still remains mi the Statute Book, the Minister. fortified by tho compelling power of the “Governor-General in Cabinet," may make such provision as he may deem necessary in the public interests for the ■ following purposes:

(a) For the prevention or suppression of methods of competition, trading, or business which arc considered to lie unfair or prejudicial to the industries of Now Zealand or to the public welfare. (1,) For the prevention or suppression of monopolies and combinations in or in relation to any industry which is considered to be prejudicial to that or any other industry in New Zealand or to the public welfare. (c) For tbe establishment of fixed or maximum or minimum prices 01 rates for any classes of goods or services, or otherwise for the regulation or control of such prices or rates.

(d) For the prohibition, regulation, or control of differential prices or rates for goods or services, or the differential treatment of different persons or classes of persons in respect of goods or services in cases where the existence of such differential prices, rates, or treatment is considered prejudicial to any industry in New Zealand or to the public welfare.

(e) For the regulation and control of industries in any other manner whatever which is deemed necessary for the maintenance and prosperity of those industries and the economic welfare of New Zealand.

Any provision made under any of those regulations comes into force immediately it is gazetted. If Parliament is in session at the time the provision must be submitted to both Mouses within fourteen days of its

gazetting, and if a majority of each Jfouso disapproves of tbe provision ii must be forthwith rescinded. If

Parliament is not in session at the

lime, the provision must be submitted to both Houses within fourteen days of the opening of the succeeding session, under similar conditions. This means that if Parliament is in session when any such provsion is gazetted, fourteen days may elapse before the two Houses will have an opportunity to arrest its operation, and that if Parliament is not in session eight months or even more may elapse before the people’s representatives have a voice in the matter. This, in itself, is a flagrant departure from democratic government which should not have born tolerated for a week after the disappearance of conditions. But the Government hits held the emergency powers for nearly ten years alter tho conclusion of the war, and for fully seven years after any plausible excuse could he found for their retention. It still arbitrarily may fix wages and prices, may suppress any industry which it considers prejudicial to any other industry, may assume control of any private enterprise that catches its fancy and may ruin any individual that may obstruct the path of its ambition. At tbe recent Legal Conference at Christill urcll Mr A. F. Wright made r!l this plain to his professional brethren and the newspapers have endorsed and emphasised his words. But it is

the politicians, particularly members of Parliament, that should be moving in this matter. NT Mile they remain silent in the presence of such a glar-

ing travesty of British fairplay they must share with the Government the blame for tbe continuance of this outrage upon the Dominion's good