TOO MUCH “STATE CONTROL."

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3595, 5 February 1927, Page 4

TOO MUCH “STATE CONTROL."

WHAT ARE WE DRIFTING TO?

There are two doctrines which from the violence of their extremes are, in theory at least, in constant opposition. The creed of philosophic Anarchism which would do away with all State authority and the. dogmas of State Socialism which seeks to deify the State and make it all in all are thus at variance.

Most thinking people wish to avoid these extremes. We recognise there are functions the State must perform. At the same time there should be such freedom left to-individual citizens as will not only allow, but encourage, them to exercise their initiative, their enterprise and their full powers of control over those affairs which effect them as individuals. In Britain able writers on economic and political subjects are complaining strongly that the country is drifting too far in the direction of State action; creating innumerable State Offices and Servants who are becoming the people’s masters. If this is so in Britain how much more is it the case in these, oversea Dominions? Thoughtful people throughout New Zealand have become much concerned on account of the rapid drift taking place towards centralising State control and the everlasting .restrictions on private enterprise which business people have to meet. What with restrictive Acts of Parliament, setting up Boards and Departments of control over various business undertakings, Orders in Council, Regulations and virtual Edicts of Department Officers, people possessed of capital arc being worried with the thought of whether this is the best country in which to carry on business or open any new venture.

We hear of trouble in the Timber Industry and of thousands pf men likely to be left without employment. To meet this situation there comes the cry for more State action. A higher tariff wall from the business side. From the Labour side prohibition of imports, with threats of direct action if the Government does not obey.

From what we can learn, much of the trouble in this industry is due to hampering State interference now taking place. Conditions are laid down by a State Department which the millers of timber find are impossible to comply with and carry on their business with any measure. of success. Even when they come to an agreement with one Department they lind another objecting that the agreement is not what it requires. How can the Government expect business to flourish under such annoyance, restriction and continuous uncertainty ? It is not in one industry alone but in respect to various industries that this sort of thing is occurring. “Where are we drifting to” has passed into a common saying amongst people. The state of mental worry involved is causing much discontent with the Government. It was not expected

that the Reform Government would follow the course of maintaining a State interference policy. “Less Government in business” was promised and that is the course which Reform voters look to See taken.

It is high time the politicians gave thought to the vital question what are the limits of the State’s functions and what liberties are to be left to private citizens to carry on business without the harassment of perpetual State restrictions, or the direction of State officials. The economic conditions of the country call for work and enterprise. To secure the best in this direction we want liberation from the hampering effects of State control and bureaucratic direction. A reversion to free trade would give greatest aid to the trade and commerce of our Dominion. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).