N.Z. STATE TRADING.

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1929, Page 5

N.Z. STATE TRADING.

To be Cut Down. CAPITALISTS PLEASED. WELLINGTON, February 14. A development of the Government’s policy qf lessening State interference in private business, is an agreement between the Commissioner of State Forests (Hon. Mr Taverner) aiiu nurserymen as regards the sale uf young trees for planting. It is understood that prices have been agreed upon for the coming season, satisfaetoiy to nurserymen. AUCKLAND, February 14. In his Presidential address to thChamber of Commerce, Mr H. T. Merritt said it was nqt his intention to consider the causes which brought about the Reform debacle at the election, exdkpt to state that the late Government failed to guage to any degree of accuracy deep resentment that was felt by nearly all classes of the community against seeming reluctance to check the growing interference of the Staw's* in the private trading of the community. Apparently such resentment was not confined to the cities, but even penetrated th ranks of primary producers. Recent pronouncements by responsible members of the pn-'Sbnt Government to thoroughly investigate the position were more than welcome. The country had been waiting for many years for the repeal of th(j war regulations introduced at a time when admittedly necessary. Mr Merritt said he did not think he was betraying a confidence when he inform?a the audience that the Chamber had received an assurance from the Department concerned that the repbal of the regulations will be one of the first considerations to be considered. LESS SOCIAL SERVICES. “How long ar© we to wait before the obnoxious clauses of thb Dairy Control Bill are abrogated ” he queried. ‘‘Are we becoming a race of mollycoddles?” he asked when referring to a large inefl? l ase in the number of persons employed in State Departments, which he said was largely due to the increasing demand of the public upon the State for social Advices. * ‘ The State it expected to provide economic utilities that could properly be done by organised capitalistic exploration, and also act as a huge pawnbroMeY for people to build their homes at less than the market price of capital, to provide free school books, dentists, doctors, lawyers and generally act as Father Christmas all the year round.”