FREE ENTERPRISE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 52, 30 August 1945, Page 6

FREE ENTERPRISE

"CONTROLS SHOULD GO"

The delicensing of the fish industry would, he hoped, be the forerunner of many similar delicensing acts by the Government, said Mr. H. T. Morton (National, WaitemaQi) speaking in the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives last night. "We want to get back to the days when men were free to start in the business they wanted to," added Mr. Morton. "The men coming back from the war will demand this privilege. The war is over. Controls should go."

Mr. Morton said the prosperity of New Zealand had not been built up by big monopolies and by the big men, but largely by the small private business man and small private traders. It was the small traders who were feeling the pinch at the present time. Where would Wellington have been but for the small business people?

Today when persons wanted to start up in business they had to go cap in hand fo some big poo-bah in the Government and seek permission. That was a bad principle. Only that day, continued Mr. Morton, he had read in the newspapers that petrol licensing was going to be abolished in Australia in the immediate, future. Could the New Zealand Government give such an assurance? No. It was going to keep on controls as long as it could.

The Labour Government in New Zealand was fostering the big people, the big monopolies. If the Government looked into the matter he was sure that tendency would be found. New Zealand was rapidly becoming a country of monopolies. The big man could get licences to import and manufacture anything from tyres to anything else, while the door was absolutely closed on the small man. "I say that with all the vigour at my command," added Mr. Morton. "We want to see that altered, and we of the National Party shall not rest until we get back to the days of freedom for the small man and a chance to take a chance."

The Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) said that unless the Government was a suicide squad it would not want to shackle and restrict citizens. As soon as the supply position improved, restrictions would be lifted. The Government had no control over the quantity of petrol that came into New Zealand but the amount consumed must be determined by supply. Australia had been tougher than New Zealand in regard to restrictions.