NEEDED REVISION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1928, Page 3

NEEDED REVISION

BOARD OF TRADE ACT WAY OUT.

(Ninteen-Twenty-Eight Committee.) It has been suggested that the removal from the Board of Trade Act of its drastic clauses empowering the Minister of Industries and Commerce to do just as he pleases with an industry or commercial undertaking that comes under bis notice, would open the way to the greedy profiteer and the soulless trust to work their wicked way as they pleased upon a hapless country. But for the retention of every clause and every line of this Act as it was framed in. war-time, the public is asked to, believe, New Zealand would become the lmppy bunting ground of every ruthless highwayman of trade and commerce and a stranger to all mutual confidence and honest dealing.

Extravagant assumptions of this kind can servo no useful purpose, unless it is to show to what lengths prejudices and uninformed people can go in denouncing u proposal they have not taken the trouble to understand. SERVED ITS PURPOSE. That the Hoard of Trade Act contains useful clauses, adapted to existing circumstances, no one denies. To quote cases in which it has been nd-' ministered to the advantage of the public, however, is not to justify the retention of clauses which, however dosirable they mave been when tlio fate of the Empire seemed to be banging in the balance, are not in harmony with the conditions and needs of these happier days. The greedy profiteer and

the soulless trust still have to he kept at arm’s length; but this is a comparatively easy task and Parliament

may be trusted to see that it is effectively performed. Parliament, under the guidance of the Minister, also may

lie trusted to take such steps as may be necessary to free tho community from tue menace of our bureaucratic rule, which has been more or less in evidence since the beginning of the war down to the present time. BACK TO NORMAL.

Happily a beginning could lie made with the revision and curtailment of the Hoard of Trade Act during tho present session of Parliament without casting reflections upon any of the political parties. The original Act was framed and introduced and ]) as sc cl by the National Cabinet. The Reformers were no more responsible for its passage than were tho Liberals and their Labour.allies. The measure was declared to ho necessary in the interests of the Dominion and the Empire and the public acquiesced in its passage as readily as did ttie politicians. Tho present Government is not responsible even foi

the Amending Bill of 1923 which was passed, as tho Minister of Industiics and Commerce explained at the time, for the purpose of substituting an inexpensive Minister for an expensive Board. This step was taken by a previous Government, which doubtless acted with the very best intentions, and may be left to bear its own responsibilities. The point at issue just now is the revision of the statute. This is the job of the present Government.