THE MODERN TREND.

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 11

THE MODERN TREND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In these times, when legislative support is forthcoming for practically every and any scheme, irrespective of its national value, it is quite refreshing to find that there are still, in our midst certain businessmen who, while not standing stll, are far-soeing enough to think seriously, and are beginning to consider whether or not the Slate

should not call a halt in its wild legislative career into the unknown. I refer to the retiring; president’s address at the Chamber of Commerce meeting. This address, able and in concise form, should give your many readers food for thought. Leaving party politics entirely in the background, Mr Allen’s address simply snows that the administration of our many and varied State activities (which the people themselves have cried for the State to manage and run) has been one long series of complete failures. The continual cry of legislation for every trade, profession, and industry to either assist its members, protect its status, or grant more protection, only brings the burden back on tho particular individual or industry in tjie long run. A simple example of the inroads machinery and inventions have (hade on the artisans’ field of activity goes to prove that too much protection in a trade or profession will, in the long run, bring about a more or less satisfactory substitute, that will ultimately ruin the original basis of its establishment. There is no hiding the fact that legislation during the past ten years in this young country has bad the very opposite effect to that which its champions made ns believe, natural economic activities have been restricted, industries have been established on an unnatural ( basis, State subsidies in various disguises play hide and seek throughout the whole sphere of industry and trade. The State will never have any permanent remedy for unemployment; the remedy will come about naturally, but much quicker if half the legislation of the last ten years was abolished. Ordinary trade and commerce, given a free hand, would soon regain the confidence of those with the money, the place to which it rightly belongs. The difference between private enterprises and State Enterprise is that the former usually caters for the people’s needs, while present-day political enterprises cater tor the people’s wants, and wants being many, this is where we fail.I am, etc., Share Man. August 0.