GOVT. IN BUSINESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 283, 25 July 1932, Page 3

GOVT. IN BUSINESS

SYSTEM NOT HELFFUL TO / UNEMPLOYMENT / PROBLEM. X CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. "At the present time private enterprise is labouring under legislative and other restrictions, which m'ake all the difference between national povertry and profitable trading. The Associated Chambers, of Commerce is doing all within its power to secure national recognition of the fact that the State must keep out of business." This pronouneement was made today by Mr. A. O. Heaney, of Wellington, secretary to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, who is visiting Christchurch and who will be there for about 10 days. Mr. Heany said to-day that as far as trading conditions were concerned, the business men of New Zealand fully appreciated the importance of Empire action through the Ottawa Conference, and also of international collaboration and co-operation in the solution of world problems. There was an urgent necessity for the revolution of prices and currency, and an adjustment between costs and profits. While looking abroad, however, New Zealand could wait too long for outside action, instead of giving her energies to tackling those factors within her own ambit and over which she had every control. There could be no greater contribution made to national recovery than the releasing of private enterprise from every let and hindranee in the performance of its legitimate and essential functions of production, distribution and exch'ange. It was a deplorable necessity which made it incumbent upon private enterprise to-day to show that it was honourabl'e, laudable, and desirable that private enterprise should make profits. It .was inseparable from the accomplishment of rehabilitation that private trade should be recognised as the only source from which could emerge certainty of 'employment, State revenue, and national well-being. Business men were doing all within their power, but the strain of privileged competition by State trading concerns on the one hand and prohibitive eommercial enactments on the other hand, combined to place the release-spring beyond the reach of the traders themselves.