Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1944. PARLIAMENT AND TRADE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 October 1944, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1944. PARLIAMENT AND TRADE.

WHATEVER the real reason for the adjournment of the Parliamentary session for about a month, —most people think that the holding of the Labour Party conference during the interval supplies the answer, —the breathing spell may give the Members some benefit, and will provide the people with an opportunity to reflect on Parliament and Parliamentarians generally. Mr. Hofland, this week, lamented that Parliament was not respected by the community. Few will deny this soft impeachment, but then every legislature has its critics, Britain’s House of Commons not excepted, as exemplified by the story of the Cockney sportsman who, commenting on his district M.P. and the salary paid, declared: “It makes me wild to think we could get a couple of fustclass ’alf-backs for the same money.” It is no coincidence that the popular estimation of Parliament in New Zealand has dwindled considerably since Labour came into power, despite the lavish expenditure by the Government to woo public favour. This generosity—at the people’s own expense—obtains votes at the general elections, but cannot command respect. The grandiose schemes launched are in strong contrast with some of the promoters. “I am often amazed at the easy confidence displayed by some who, without ever having successfully conducted any business undertaking, assume that they can successfully control and conduct the trade of the country,” said Air. Leslie Lefeaux, formerly governor of the Reserve Bank, when speaking to members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening. He has not his amazement to himself.

The results of State enterprise have not all been happy. Housewives know the effects on prices and supplies by the increase in control of industries. The Internal Marketing Department’s activities, for instance, are not regarded as a boon and a blessing. The difficulty of obtaining good coal in this West Coast mining area is no testimonial to the Mines .Department’s administration, shout Mr. Webb ever so loudly about increased coal-pro-duction. Regulations and restrictions increase, and to some Labourites zoning is the remedy for most industrial ills. It cannot be doubted that efforts will be made to enlarge this form of restricted trading, and shoppers’ freedom of choice of patronage and supplies will become a happy memory. Disguised taxation, in the shape of subsidies, may sweeten the pills that have to be swallowed, but the last state of the consumer will be worse than the first. In theory, State control and zoning may appear attractive, but in practice, the advantages prove illusory. As an instance, take the plea by Mr. Anderton, Labour member for Eden, that the Internal Marketing Department should have powers to zone the retailing of fruit and vegetables. He claimed that if this were done, the costs of distribution could be cut by six hundred per cent, and then prices would immediately come down. He said that in many streets there were five, six or seven retailers of fruit and vegetables, all paying individual rents which had to be passed on to the consumer, thus making prices high. Sounds well, but there are some questions to answer. Who would be given the monopoly of fruit-dealing in an area? Would premisesspace and rent be saved by having one large store, instead of several small shops? What would be the effect on employment, rates, associated industries? Would the consumers be better off by the absence of competition? There are other queries, but enough doubt is spontaneous to make consumers beware of “zoning” claims. State enterprise in some branches of national commerce can be justified, but in others, especially in retail trading, free-for-all competition is the people’s best hope.