PRIVATE BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1933, Page 3

PRIVATE BUSINESS

STATE COMPETITION

COMMERCIAL MEN PROTEST

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") PALMERSTON N., This Day. "It is the desire of our executive," wrote the Associated Chambers of Commerce to last night's meeting of tho Palmerston North Chamber, "to collect as many specific cases of Government interference in business as possible, and -with this end in view we would ask you to send a copy of the enclosed circular to each member of your chamber, and after investigation of any cases that you may Teeeive, to forward them to us for appropriate action. "Privileged trading by State and local body departments in competition with private concerns, and State interferences and restrictions of all kinds, need to be combated with the full strength of organised trade." "It does seem a sad commentary on the state we have reached," said the president (Mr. M. H. Oram), "when we look back and see the way the British' Empire has been built up by private trade, by private business, and by private initiative, assisted by the Government, that we are now reduced to the stage where private businesses and concerns are banding together to protect themselves from the Government, which should be their protector. I suggest that the secretary take up the matter actively and circularise every member and endeavour to obtain information relating to any cases of State interference that they know of. If the Associated Chambers, can accomplish something in this matter, they will do a lot for the Dominion, because until private enterprise is unhampered, the country will never he, able to regain prosperity." The chairman's suggestion was agreed to.