INTERFERENCE IN BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 6 December 1930, Page 8

INTERFERENCE IN BUSINESS

(To the Editor.) Sir,-^I have no brief either for or against the coupon system, which is being criticised, but the outcome places the Chambers of Commerce in rather an amusing predicament. For example, your paper only recently published reports of this body (including the Associated Chambers Conference at the Hermitage), in which severe criticism was levelled against "Government interference in business." Now we have the self-same body demanding Government interference in business by stopping the "coupon" system. The Chambers of Commerce cannot have it both ways. They are not entitled to ask for interference in business when it only smits themselves. Any Government interference in business in the past has been for the protection of the public, as take, for example, the Board of Trade Act, which deals with the suppression of monopolies and- profiteering in food. The Chambers of Commerce are vainly trying to influence Parliament to have this Act repealed. Their president speaks hopefully of the result. Let us hope,' for the honour of. Parliament, that his wishes are unfounded. By all means let the Chambers of Commerce continue their propaganda and deputations, but let them drop the line about "public benefit." Perhaps members of Parliament who meet the next deputation from the Chambers of Commerce will be bold enough to ask the deputation to explain its inconsistency on the question of "Government interference with business," and _to remind them that they are now asking for such interference when they have only so : recently objected to it. One could easily have expected the Press to point * out this inconsistency, but having overlooked it, perhaps amends can be made by publication of this letter. —I am, etc., CRITIC. sth December.