The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Coast Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1929. ASPECTS OF TRADING

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Coast Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1929. ASPECTS OF TRADING

Tino vexed question of State versus private trading is receiving a goad deai or attention from, the metropolitan press, following the recent discussion and decision on the subject at the late conference of the Labour Party. The Otago Daily Times says that as was to oe expected, one of the resolutions adopted by the Now Zealand Labour Party Conference is expressive of opposition to any elfort which may he made “to retard or handicap” local body or State organisations that are providing services or supplying goods in coni|K‘tition with private traders. 'I he Labour Parly is necessarily opposed to the policy ot the present (Government in relation to the question of State interference with private trading—a do] icy which its predecessor had recognised the desirability ol adopting, for, though during the term <n the late (Government, there had been a development of interference ol this character, this was traceable to expedients L.i which it was deemed necessary to resort during the war peri d. The I.abmr Party is perfectly consistent .of course, in sup]) rting Stale trading mtivilies and in desiring the maintenance and e .tension ol them. It regards every step in that direction as indicative of prog re s towards the goal of its ninbiti m. the realisation of its socialistic programme of State ownership of all means of pro-

duction ami distribution. To the extent to which State ownership and management are confined to such things as railways, the post office, telegraphs, and telephones. hydro-elecLric systems, which are in the nature of public utilities, it represents the adoption of a principal that has been widely accepted and that is not regarded as the less sound even though public ownership may he productive ol a less efficient and more costly service than would he supplied under private control and mnmigemcnt. When, however, the State embarks upon undertakings in which it enters into competition with private enterprise, and when private traders are taxed, as in effect they are. in order that the State may the more .nccessfnlly e min t its operations in

•umpetition with them, the principal of State ownership is carried to a point at which criticism is fully warranted, -ml of which justification is difficult. Indue interference on the part ol the State with private trading is cstnblishd wlmn the activities of the Government departments,go beyond the limits which may lie legitimately regarded as those to which State ownership of public utilities should l-c restricted. It is another attempt to follow in the footsteps of Russia to eliminate private enterprise. It is the usual trend toward.' State socialism which seems to lie the objective of organising politial Labour all over the world. It is as well to b n ar this fact in mind in New Zealand, for the public who possess the voting power should he reluctant, at all times to assist Labour to a dominant position in the political arena. When that comes to pass there will he a short increase of political trouble ahead of the Dominion.