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Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1928, Page 4

I ill-: thought for the times to-day contains an expression of opinion by M r llerherl Hoover. IVexideiil-cleel of'the I oiled Slates, on what has mint* to be called “(iovernincnl interference* in business."’ Tin.* war period was the reason for the first serious steps in regard to Government interl’er<uiee in both personal ’ibertv and trading. and tin* practice has gone on. There lias h<*en much objection expressed to tin* practice of this inieiTereneo. 'l’hree years ago there as a slogan by tin* prevailing political Party to have “less

government in business.” and appropriately “more business in goverfileont.” Hut this resolve was not lived up to by the* Now Zealand Government, and when the slogan was blazoned abroad at the recent general election, the people were not prepared to tal<e Reform on trust again. It may b<* interred with a wood deal of conviction that the failure to live up to the promise of l!)t>o was one of the contributing causes to the political downfall of the Reform party. Some of iho Reform press have been very candid on the point. Even though supporting the principles of the Reform party Generally, tlie press has referred frequently to the growing practice of too much interference with business Lv means of regulations and restrictions, and ih(> promulgating of Orders-in-f.'ouncil. Tt is said openly that two Ministers at least owe the loss ei' their seats to their open support of eontrol in roeard to business undertakings. A wood dead of adverse criticism lias been parsed also on tbe Reform action in backing ami tilling on the sale of meat works, and the uncertain not to say unfair policy, assisted to wreck the fortunes of the late Government. Thai there is much to do in regenerating the

oent of the past policy in this matter of Government interference, here arc mn.i uts from a mercantile publication which has given the late Government very generous support up to the time of its defeat, though obviously Iroin the following the (iovernment sinned grievously in its methods ol administration: “Wo have to-day a new (iovernment in power, and it is to he hoped that the men forming that Government will respond to the wishes of i lie people and take the earliest opporwnity of jet 11 is.ouing all legislation, re-

gulations and Orders-in-( oimcil that have the least semblance of. Government or political interference in business. Get the people work out their own salvation untrammelled by restrictive legislation. The l!-anl o' Trade \: t must he expunged front the Statute Ih'ok. The wide po-'ers possessed by Control Hoards, and especially hy the Meat Hoard and Dairy Hoard, must he abolished, hut better s,l ,||. these Hoards should he legislated out of existence, and their place taken hy a marketing organisation attached lo t:i(> Denarlmeiit nf Agriculture to

safeguard flic quality of (lie produce exported from the Dominion. Trade, commerce, and industry must he set tree to develop and expand under the blessings of lit cry. The people want llieir liberty and the Government of to-day must see that if is rostoivl to t hem.”