PROFITEERING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17684, 23 July 1919, Page 5

PROFITEERING.

A CLERGYMAN'S DENUNCIATION!

''CAPITALISM DIGGING US GKAVE." "I firmly believe that if the public only Knew tne enormous profits some firms kre mating by Ueecing tlie people thero would Do a revolution m the country," remarked tpo Kev. J G. Chapman in speaking at ™.° {•arana.ki Street Metaodist Churcn on J-rutU ior Commccial and Sccial life," bays tne Wellington Post. "Tiie man woo practises dishonesty and ixaud during tue week," he said, "and pute an extra, half-crown on the colleoaoa plate to saive his conscience and to get on tne right side of God, is a fool tor hia puns. Deceit is the sign of inferiority, because rt runs toward the animal conditions ol Hie. liio fox, for example, is cunning ness incarnate. Tnere is a good deal of ioxiness in business to-day. 'But a man. must uve,' is a cant phrase. lam not aware of any necessity tnat you should live, bom© people would he better in heavenl what is really meant by that phrase—'a man must live'—is that one is justified in getting by foid means what ho cannot ire* Dy fair." °

Continuing, he referred to the "iniquitous profiteering" that was going on, and the scandalous -way in whioh the public! is being fleeced. He marvelled that they tolerated it. In Italy the people had • taken the matter into their own .hands, and had foxed the Government to stop the roboery of the public. "What a splendid opportunity offers the leaders of the Labour Party," he said, -'to call the members of their party to form a procession and march to Parliament House and demand that stringent measures be adopted to put down tl»is scandalous profiteering. I believe that a large proportion of the population of 4Welhngton would bs willing to join such a. procession. I should be happy to carry one of the banners. myself. \ is digging its own grave, and I should be most happy to officiate at its funeral. Sir James Allen, in replying • to a deputation a few days ago, said: 'You forget that Capitalism is sometimes generous.' We don't • want generosity; we ask for' justice and fairness. A tradesman said to me, 'We can get any price we like to charge for our stuff. The peoplewant it and are prepared to pay for it' 'But what of those who need it and cannot afford to pay the prices charged?' I asked. With a shrug of his shoulders he* said. They must go without' A fina example of 'Capitalism's generosity.' I do not believe that the late war was a capitalist's wair," he concluded, "but I know that capitalists are making the war an excuse for oharging excessively high. prices. I would be willing to join a league, the members of which pledge then> selves not to purchase a single article of clothing until prices fell to a fair and equitable rate._ Better go arrayed in sack-' cloth and sit in ashes than support a busi» ness firm that is fattening on the unsophis* ticated and long-suffering public."