WILD TALK BY BUSINESS MEN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 33, 2 November 1927, Page 10

WILD TALK BY BUSINESS MEN

.The class of talk indulged in by one or two speakers at the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce at Christchurch on Monday last is not the style of thing looked for from leaders of business and commerce. The wild and sweeping assertions of Mr. L. J. Gardner were more suited to the irresponsible political mob orator at the street corner than to a gathering of the representatives of the business community of the Dominion. Their very extravagance robs them of serious weight. Some of the questions raised are of very real interest and concern to all sections of business. There can be no question that where the State or municipality enters into competition with private business it should do so on equal terms as to rates and taxes. This is only fair and just. Moreover, neither the State nor the local bodies should exercise the power they possess through control of public funds to unfairly compete with established private enterprises. .It may be further submitted that the State should not enter into business competition with private enterprise where the public is already well and fairly served by such enterprises. It is absurd, however, for business men, or any other section of the community, to attack in wholesale fashion such State institutions as the Public Trust Office, which was recklessly described “as one of the country’s greatest menaces,” town planning, electric power installations, State railways, and State forestry. They may each at times be subject to criticism in matters of detail or on questions of policy, but general condemnation is not only flying in the face of established public opinion, but robs the criticism of any weight or value. Not all the speakers at the conference dealt in generalities nor was all the criticism indulged in without justification. But the note struck by Mr. Gardner, who appears to have assumed the role of chief, spokesman for the malcontents, gave a tone to the proceedings.which militated against that calm and reasoned discussion which the importance of the occasion called for.

There is a good deal of truth in the statement made by one of the 'speakers as to the effects of the recent trade depression in the views of business men. No Government is popular in periods of business slackness, when the pinch of hard times is being felt. It is then that the grumbler and malcontent finds those in office a popular target for abuse and criticism. The Coates Government has suffered and is still suffering in this way.