"ATTACKS OVERDONE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1932, Page 5

"ATTACKS OVERDONE."

STATE ENTERPRISES

BUSINESS MAN'S VIEW,

EFFECT OF RECENT CRITICISM.

Regret at the tone of the criticism directed at State and public body undertakings by the Associated Chambers of Commerce wag expressed by Mr. J. W. Andrews, a past president of the Lower llull Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting last week. Mr. Andrews (reports the "Post") said that -he was not a supporter of Government interference in private business, but lie thought the attacks made were overdone, if not entirely unwarranted. It seemed that the chief duty of the permanent officer of the Associated Chambers of Commerce waa to work up the best of a number of poor cases against public bodies. This charge could also te laid at the door of some of the larger chambers. .hi a recent issue of its journal, tlie Auckland Chamber of Commerce, published an ill-advised and most erroneous attack on the Minister of Public Works and the Engineer-in-Chief, claiming that they were usurping the rights of private engineers in their desire to obtain control of works. The article in question had proved a great hindrance to at least one large undertaking. Arrangements were in hand by a New Zealand company to construct huge works, which would have meant the circulation of at least £<)0,000 in direct wages during the next twelve months, and starting an industry of immense public value. The directors approached the Public Works Department for sonic crginoeriiig assistance, as the work was a national one, but the, effect of the criticism of the Auckland Chamber's journal was such that the Eng'meer-in-'Chief had to decline to accede to the request. This would mean a considerable delay in starting the works, and their value as a relief for unemployment would not bo nearly so great. Mr. Andrews thought that the published propaganda was not at all helpful, and that the chambers were flogging themselves to death. Other speakers endorsed these remarks.