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Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1934, Page 4

in precent circumstances a matter for which tho Government must assume full responsibility, but if i.t was to he effective there must also be in some cases regulation of home supplies in the interests of the sound development of the home industry. The Government made it clear that it was not

prepared to regulate imports merely to make room for disorderly production at home. The distributive trades as such were outside the scope of the plan of organisation provided for in the -Agricultural Marketing Acts, but they were vitally concerned in tho new development which would almost inevitably involve readjustments both in the methods and channels of distribution. This was very obvious in the case of bacon, where a marked increase in home production hind necessitated the settling down of imported supplies. Goodwill and a readiness to co-oper-ate among all concerned would help Lo lubricate the machinery in its early stages «nd facilitate any adjustments I required. But that was not all. Many ! were, no doubt, asking ' themselves whether organisation could under present conditions stop with the producers. If, as seemed likely, it was but a question of time before fhe crisis reached wholesale and retail distribution, would it not be wise and prudent for those engaged to begin to consider for themselves the problems involved—such as the size and efficiency of the individual retail unit, the regulation of trade practices, the elimination of uneconomic price-cutting, etc., and tile means- to their solution? Would not an inquiry undertaken by the representative oranisations amongtheir members as to the incidence of. unfair price-cutting and other abuses, of competition lie a useful first step to collective action? Afterwards as a result of the careful study of the evidence available it might be clear that there were problems for which organisation might produce a remedy.