ANTI-COMBINES LEGISLATION.

Evening Star, Issue 11626, 10 July 1902, Page 7

ANTI-COMBINES LEGISLATION.

[From Ora Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 10. Last evening’s sitting of the House was occupied with the Rings and Combines Suppression Bill of Mr Hornsby. The measure was far-feaching in its proposals, and the feeling was expressed in the early part of the evening that it was a subject which ought to be dealt with by Government measure, and not by a private member. In moving the second reading, Mr Hornsby said he would be satisfied if the operation of (ho measure were restricted to food and tied houses. Already the- flour ring had attempted to dictate the price of wheat to the growers, and the price of bread had been raised to fhe con umer. The allegation that the combines and rings were-caused by the conduct of the working classes was not fair, because the conditions in each care were different. He pointed out the movement in the United States, in Argentine, and in Canada to suppress gteat combines and the action of the shipping rings. The tendency* was to buy the liberties of the people 'by means of wealthy There was not a respectable newspaper in New Zealand which had not condemned the Millers’ Trust, and he urged the Government td take steps for its sup-press-on. Touching on the meal monopoly, he expressed his gratification with the cornbin dion of Mird companies to break up the combination. The South Island buvers had written to the sheep farmers of the Wairarapa stating that th?y would come up and buy prime freezing wetlers at 14s to 14s 6d, hut (hey did not come because a Wellington company took up the business. Addressing himse.f to the tied-house question, be said by some subtle action-on the part of the brewers and the wine and spirit merchants they had frustrated the attempts to abdl sh Ihe tied houses, but the conditions imposed on persons who took these places were so hard that they could not carry out the busines without haying recourse to improper acts, such as se-.ing drugged and adulterated liquors. It might be touching on libel t °i.^ X P° Fe reasons why inferior buildings which had been condemned received renewals from the licensing benches. He appealed to hon. members to give the Bill fair consideration.—Mr Gdfedder cordial’y *supP? rt^ r .second reading of the Bill, while Mr With iord said that what the people of Auckland most desired was the suppression pf the Government monopoly in land—Mr T. Mackenzie defended the flour millers against the charge of combining in order to extract undue profits. He contended that the object of the combine was to secure fair and reasonable profits and a fair rate of wage for the men in their employ and j?’’' r.° fe rCe Up pric6s to a high level.— Mr G. W. Russell adversely criticised the and declared that the miller?* combine wa? formed to resist the attempt to reduce profi-s to an unprofitable level, and to meet the general increase in wages fixed bv the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. He suggested that a special committee should be appointed before whom membibs of various interests now designated combines may appear and produce bock- or make statements which will show the real condition of their business.—Mr Massey said much had been heard recently of a body known as the Farmers’ Union. The real object of that Association was tb secure a fair price for their produce and labor. He could ho+ see his w-av to support such hj ridiculous measure as real now under consideration.—Mr F.owlds hilst opposed to any attempt to form combines for unfairly raising prices, could not see his way to support the Bill in ’ its present drastic form, which would prevent even an ordinary ‘partnership or company being formed or a transfer from one company to another. He was in full sympathy with the provisions of the Bill relatin'* to tied houses. Atick’and had been worse eff than any other part of the colohv in "this respect. Re wou’d vote against the second reading.—Mr Willis considered the measure too drastic, and found fault with the diversity Of the provisions.—Mr Napier, while in sympathy with Ihe objects aimed at, was, likn the previous speaker, of opinion that the Bill was too stringent and drastic to meet with the approval of the House. He approved of the proposal for setting up a committee by the Government to Inquire into the whole question. The effect of the Bill would bo to practically destroy commerce and trade.—After considerable discussion the Acting-Premier suggested that the mover should accept a second Shading, and then let the Bid stand bVer till thb Government measure dealing with the question was brought down. The Government measure would be submitted to & select committee to take evidence. He disapproved of dealirtg with tied housed or an attempt to amend tire Licensing Act in a measure Of this sort.—Tho debate was• continued bv Mesfers A k’nspfi and .Pirani (who to: k occasion of the tied-house clause to attack Mr Stafford, S.M., on the ground of bias) M‘Nab, the Minister of Justice, and others’ and at 11.45 p m, Mr J. Allen moved (he ad ourement of the debate. The mof’on for adjournment Was negatived by 34 to 22. The second reading was put at 2,25, and carried by 21 to 15 The House then rose.