THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 12, 1936. THE SMALL MAN SUFFERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 282, 12 November 1936, Page 6

THE H.B. TRIBUNE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 12, 1936. THE SMALL MAN SUFFERS.

Judging by a Wellington message appearing in another column, the Government’s house-building plans are halting a good deal at the start. Not only is this the case, but their ajmouncement has had the effect, in at least one of the big centres where they were to be first put into; operation, of seriously checking private construction, with the result that the smaller builders who usually undertake that class of work are finding themselves with little if anything to do. Complaint is also being, made, and this is general throughout the Dominion, that the State Advances Corporation, which is now virtually under ministerial control, is very chary about lending to-the extent and ipon the terms which prospective borrowers were led to hope for. On the other hand, we hear very little as to any movement on the part of municipal or other public bodies towards availing themselves of State loan moneys for home-building purposes.

Having regard for the magnitude of the Government’s schemes, it may be thought that present criticisms are somewhat premature and perhaps a little unreasonable. At the same time, how ever, it cannot but be said that the Government by the very lavishness of its promises, with the intimation also that they were to be put into immediate effect, has invited them. Great expectations have been aroused and the Government has only itself to blame if there is widespread impatience to see them on the way to be realised. It is also to be readily understood that, so long as any uncertainty or doubts continue as to the Government’s own real intentions, private house-building, at any rate in the four main cities, should be largely suspended. It is furthermore urged that, so far as the Government’s plans have actually been disclosed, there is going to be very little chance for the smaller class of masterbuilders to have a hand in them. Contracts, it is said, are to be let, but they are to be on such a scale that none but those with substantial capital at command could think of entertaining them. This is, of course, quite in keeping with the tendency of much of the present Government’s legislation and administrative activities. Practically all of them have conduced towards driving the small than out of business and, for the time being at any rate, concentrating the industries, trade and services of the country in the hands of what the average Labour man has hitherto been taught to regard as sinister capitalistic combinations.

For the small man of some individuality, independence and

personal enterprise—the type that has laid the foundations of so many of the Empire’s greatest labour-employing and wage-pay-ing industries, businesses and services—there is no encouragement, but rather a policy designed to reduce him to the common level. How far this is likely to promote the country’s progress and the welfare of its people may be left to those of common sense to decide for themselves. For the ultraSocialist, of course, there is the bright prospect of the Sappy day when even the big men will be driven out of businless and we shall all be dependent, as so many already are, upon the Ministry for the time being in office for the chance and means to earn a living. That sort of Utopia is, of course, the ultimate goal, and that is a thing it might be as well for even the big men now flirting with the Government not to forget.