The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 15, 1933. IN EFFICIENCY'S NAME

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 15, 1933. IN EFFICIENCY'S NAME

For the cause that lack* assistance, For the urong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we earn do.

Although the Pit.?-? throughout Xcw j Zealand pointed out its nature, and protested j against iw hasty passage through the Legislature, the Industrial Efficiency Act has been given less attention by the general public than it deserves. The reason for this apathy, presumably, is that each individual business man thinks that the Act can never affect him. In that he is greatly mistaken. The ! detinition in the Act could not be more comprehensive: "Industry"' includes any trade, occupation, business, manufacture, works or st rvice of any kind whatsoever. How may any industry be brought within the scope of the Act ? The Minister "may at any time direct the Bureau (of Industries) to prepare an industrial plan for the organisation of any industry or related industries." or die may "at any time, by notice published in the Gazette, declare that any industry sj>ecitied in j the notice shall, as from a date to be specified therein, be carried on only pursuant to a license . . . and in conformity with the terms and conditions of such license. ..." Hence there need be no surprise at the information, published in the "Star" yesterday, concerning the extent and degree of Government control of the pharmacy business. Under a newlvappointed and obviously zealous director, the Pharmacy Industrial Committee, which is subordinate to the Bureau of Industry, is at present eagaged in drawing up a drug price tariff, containing some 1500 items. "Fast on the heels of the drug tariff will come the survey," \fchieh is to be followed by the' issue of a "plan" for "the rehabilitation of pharmacy," and regulations to give effect to it. All this is being done, no doubt, in accordance with the Act, for pharmacy is one of the "gazetted" industries. It should in fairness' be added that it is not being done precipitately, nor without consultation of the industry's representatives. But v what is significant is that it is being done at all, that a Government and a Minister should have this power. How far will the Government go? There seems to be no stopping-place except that dictated by the Government's inclination. Are those men and women who are financially interested in "industry" (as defined by the' Act) content with the prospect ? There is little doubt that they are not. But danger lies in the tendency of those in any one industry to acquiesce in, or seek, the application of the Act for special and temporary advantage.