NO EXPLOITATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 15

NO EXPLOITATION.

MR. SAVAGE'S HINT. INCREASES IN PRICES. READY TO TAKE ACTION. The determination of the Government to take action that will prevent all forms of exploitation of the people was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. .Savage, in an interview with "The Standard." He said that the main reason given for increases in wages was that the people could 'buy more goods with the money at their disposal. It was not the objective of Labour to allow increased prices to absorb the extra, purchasing power that was given to the people. The Government would take whate\er steps were necessary to ensure that the people were not exploited bv unjustifiable increases in the prices of commodities. Every form of exploitation would have to be stopped. N*ot only must the Government prevent the man selling boots and shoes, for instance, from increasing his prices without justification, but to be consistent it must see to it that that man was not exploited by the landlord. "We MWi't allow the landlord a f i'oo hand to exploit the seller of boots and show* while the seller of boots and shoes is prevented from passing on increases to the 'public," Mr. Savage added. "The prevention of exploitation has got to be applied right through from the rent of the shop to the sale of the commodities. "We don't want to prevent anvbody frorti getting a fair return from his business, but to allow any section of the community to exploit the rest of the community by taking advantage of a sheltered position and because of a shortage of supplies will not be allowed. "The Government will be bound to consider seriously the prevention of exploitation in all forms of buildings including houses and flats for letting purposes. If the owner of a flat, a house or a shop gets more than his fair share of New Zealand's production all other sections of the community must get leas."