BOARD OF TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 8

BOARD OF TRADE

LEGACY FEOM WAR AUTOCRATIC POWERS (By "Taxpayer.") The Cost of Living Act, placed upon the Statute Book by the National Gov eminent in the second year of the Great War, was designed to protect the public from exploitation by soulless speculators and greedy profiteers. It involved the appointment of a Board cf Trade clothed with wide powers of investigation and supervision, and required this board to report to the Government with suggestions and recommendations. On the whole the Act served its purpose fairly well. A year after the conclusion of the war, in 1919, the Board of Trade was placed upon a permanent basis with greatly extended functions, and it exercised these 'functions >until 1923, when' it was superseded by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, representing the Government, with practically unbridled authority. Under the amended Act, which still" remains on the Statute. Book, the Minister, fortified 'by the compelling power of the •"GovernorGeneral in Cabinet," /may make such provision as he may deem necessary in the public interests for the following purposes:— - (a) For the prevention and suppression of methods of competition, trading, or business which are considered to be unfair or prejudicial to the industries of Now Zealand or to tho public welfare. •. • . . (b) For the prevention or suppression of monopolies and combinations in or' in relation to any industry which is considered to be prejudicial. to that or any other industry in New Zealand or to the public welfare. ■ • (c) For the establishment of fixed or maximum or minimum prices or rates for any classes of goods or services, or otherwise for the regulation or control of such prices or- rates.: (d) For the prohibition, regulation, or control of differential prices, or rates for goods or services, or the differential treatment of different ' persons or classes of persons in respect of goods or services in cases where the,existence of such differentia] prices, rates, or treatment is' considered prejudicial to any industry in New Zealand or to the public welfare. ' . (c) For the regulation and control of industries in any other manner whatever which 'is deemed' necessary for the maintenance and prosperity of those industries and the economic Welfare of. New Zealand. ' ' ■" .! TRAVESTY OF FAIR PLAY. Any provision made under any of these regulations comes into force immediately! it is gazetted. If Parliament is in session at the time the pro-' vision must be submitted to both Houses "within fourteen days of .its gazetting, and if a majority of- each House disapproves'of the provision it ;must be forthwith rescinded.' If Parliament is not in session at the time, the provision must be submitted to both Houses within fourteen days of the opening of the succeeding, session, under similar conditions. This means that if Parliament is in session when any such provision is gazetted, . fourteen days may elapse before the two Houses will have an .oppotrunity to arrest its operation, and that if Parliament is not in session eight.months or even'more' may elapse before - the people's representatives have a voice in the matter. This, in itself, is a flagrant departure from democratic government, which should not have been tolerated for a week after the disappearance of war conditions. But' the Government has held the emergency powers for nearly ten years after the conclusion of the war, and for fully seven years-after any plausible excuse could be' found for their retention. It. still arbitrarily may fix wages and prices, may suppress any industry which it considers ; prejudicial to any other industry, may assume control of any private enterprise that catches its fancy, and may ruin any individual that may obstruct the path of its ambition. At the recent Legal Conference in Christchurch Mr. A. F. Wright made all this plain to Ms professional brethren, and the "Evening Post" has endorsed and emphasised his words. But it is the politicians, .particularly members of Parliament, that should be'moving in. this matter. While they remain silent' in the presence.of such a glaring travesty of British fair play they must share-with the Government the blame for the continuance of this outrage upon the Dominion's good name.