"THE VICIOUS CIRCLE.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 145, 5 June 1919, Page 7

"THE VICIOUS CIRCLE.”

GOVERN MENT CONT ROL LING INDUSTRY. COMMERCIAL MANS PROTEST. ' Sydney, May 17. j Mr. Arthur Cocks. M.L.A., a former president of the Chamber of Commerce, ; and now chairman of the Importers' : Association, speaking yesterday in reference to the relaxation of price-fixing by the Federal Government, said; — i “It is always dangerous for Governments to interfere with the ordinary laws of supply and demand. The only justification the Federal Government had aroso out of the abnormal conditions created by the war. But it is very difficult for a Government to get to the kernel of the truth. Too often i ministries are guided to their conclusions by the successful lobyists for interested parties. Consequently there must always be associated with priec- ! fixing a large amount of lop-sided adI ministration, dangerous to the comI raunity. Onee a Government starts on a career of commercial interference

other than through the medium of Pai liamontary decision, the ground he

> comes more dangerous. Yet the Governj ment lias been arrogating to itself the , powers of tariff-making, by going upon ; a principle of extensive prohibitions. - This is price-fixing in another form — j to the benefit of manufacturers, and . the detriment oi the community. This , has been done to oblige extremists ivau I are not satisfied with 3U or -111 per cent., t but iu some instances have secured increased protection to the extent of 100 [ and 200 per cent. What with an iuter- , i state commission and oilier bodies in- ; vestigating the intricacies of business ■ I management, the boards of control, and , a bureau of industry, and various other institutions which the Government . seem favourable to bolstering up, the (co->t of living must be materially affected. The taxpayer is beginning to see (the cost to ium of the vicious circle (created by over-go vernine nt. . The cost of it all goes upon the shoulder.', of the l people. Mow much longer are attempts I going to be made to kill those primary, industries v.hieh form the backbone oi j Australia ? 1