DIPPING INTO POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 8

DIPPING INTO POLITICS.

AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHY REFORM WENT OUT

too much ixtki:it:i;kxce

Prefacing his remarks l>y tho statement that it is not usual from the presidential chair of tlie Chamber of Commerce to refer to the political situation, to-day's chairman, Mr. If. T. Merritt. made occasion at the annual meetin<; to refer to what he described as "the unexpected debacle of the Keform party at the last elections." It was not his intention to consider the causes which had brought this about, except that the late Government failed to gauge to any degree of accuracy the deep resentment felt by nearly all (■lasses of the community against their seeming reluctance to place a check upon the growing interference of the State in the private trading of the community. Apparently this res"ntment was not confined to the city, but even penetrated the ranks of the primary producer.

"I am sure you will all agree," continued .Mr. Merritt. "quite irrespective of party feeling, that the recent pronouncements by responsible members of the present Covernment to thoroughly investigate the position are more than welcome. 'I he country lias been waiting for many years tor the. repeal of the 'War liegulations, introduced at. a time when they were admittedly necessary, and I do not think [ am betraying anv confidence when I inform you that we have received assurance from the Department concerned that a repeal of these regulations will be one of the first questions to hi; considered; also how long are we to wait before the obnoxious clauses of the Dairy Control Bill are abrogated