PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 March 1926, Page 11

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

HAMPERED BY STATE RESTRICTIONS.

Br Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON; March 23. “In some directions, it looks as if legitimate private enterprise is losing its control, and being subjected to such restrictions that it cannot possibly carry on. 1 ’ This was the keynote of a statement made by a big deputation of represen. tative business interests throughout the Dominion, which waited on •the Prime Minister and other Ministers' of the Crown this morning, to protest against Government interference in private enterprise and unfair competition on the part of tiie State and local body uin dertakings, against private concerns. Particular reference, was made to the proposed introduction of absolute control of the dairy industry by the Export Control Hoard in August, tiie deputation asking that tho law should D« amended to provide that such control should only be enforceable by Order-in-Council. The Prime Minister stated that the Government agreed that tho State and private competition should be placed upon a fair basis. Arrangements were In train to that end. So far as dairy control was concerned, both he and the Minister of Agriculture were ascertaining from the Control Hoard what arrangements were being made for the disposal of our dairy produce. They had no statutory right to do this, but in tho national interests they wished to make perfectly certain that no risks would be run by the inauguration of the. new system of control. The deputation was representative of sawinil.'ers, chambers of commerce, drapers, clothiers, bootmakers, nurserymen, woolbrokers, stock, and station agents, electrical traders, and fire and accident underwriters.

Besides the Primo Minister, the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. Hawken), and the Attorney General (Hon. W. Downie-Stewart) heard the representation:; of the deputation.