The economy

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 12

The economy

Sir, —Contrary to Patrick Neary’s claim (February 23) govern men t-run monopolies such as the Meat Board are not a logical development of free enterprise. If the marketing of New Zealand’s agricultural products was left to private enterprise a number of businesses would inevitably develop for the purpose of developing overseas markets. These businesses, in an effort to compete with one another, would offer the best possible deal to the farmers and would employ top salesmen (not politicians) to sell the product overseas. One negative consequence of the government-run monopolies is that they remove from the farmer the necessity to grow what people want by guaranteeing him a minimum price regardless of the end selling price. At present anyone who attempts to market their produce through any means other than a government monopoly is liable to prosecution. This is a disgusting and irresponsible misuse of the power of the law and is typical of a socialist government. — Yours, etc., P. TATE. February 24, 1981.