WHICH NEXT ?

Grey River Argus, 20 July 1945, Page 2

WHICH NEXT ?

Small Businesses Threatened Once extremist Labour politicians get under way, they press on with State ownership in all directions. We are seeing this develop in New Zealand now at an alarming rate. _ The latest instances are nationalization oi banking and the airways. . Not merely large financial institutions, but the small men, also, are regarded as fair game by the Stateownership fanatics. Noboa'y is safe. Look at what was done in Australia. The Queensland Socialist Government ran the following Stateowned undertakings, and suffered the following losses: — Losses. £ Govt. Butcher Shops .... 28,014 ” Produce Agency .. . 18,686 ” Fish Supply 36,012 ” Cold Stores 59,929 ” Cannery 112,696 ” Cattle Stations .... 1,669,904 ” Smelter & Mines ... 1,586,299 ” Other ventures .... 156,889 £3,668,429 The actual losses (including uncharged interest) were £4,447,216, which had to be found by the tax* paying public. The Queensland State trading experiment was such a shocking 'failure that it was discontinued, but not before the people had had their bitter lesson. Socialist extremists are the same the world over. Nationalization of banking and the airways in New Zealand is only a start, and' no one can look on disinterestedly and say it does not affect them. —Inserted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand.