GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2517, 22 December 1927, Page 5

GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CONFERENCE. •» . . REMARKS MISCONSTRUED. At the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, held in Christchurch recently, considerable discussion was given to "the subject of "government in business." An address was delivered to delegates by a visitor, aud a good deal of comment has been occasioned; as a result of the telegraphed report of his remarks. In particular, exception has been taken in several quarters to the strictures therein passed on the Public Trust Office. The president of the association (Mr D. J. McGowan), to whom this matter was referred by a Dominion reporter, made clear the mind of the executive of the association on the subject. In the first place, he said, the telegraphed report of the proceedings, being considerably condensed, did not do justice to the discussion, nor was the address referred to delivered by any one of the delegates. It wasunfortunate, too, that so much should have been made of the Public Trust Office, as the executive recognised the many benefits that had accrued through the establishment of that office. Nevertheless, it was felt that the Public Trustee's powers went too far in certain directions, and that some of the special legislation passed was not justifiable or necessary. As to trading in competition -with private ventures, Mr McGowan continued, the view of the association* was that where trading was undertaken either by the State, a municipality, or any other local body, it should compete in fair terms, be subject to the same licenses, taxation, and restrictions as were imposed on private ventures. Many of the State undertakings were conducted under conditions which were less onerous than, thoso imposed on their competitors, and this unfair competition was strongly objected to. In Mr McGowan's opinion far too much "trading" was being done by the Government, whose obvious duty lie said was to govern the country and not to enter into competition with established institutions, and business concerns which were already giving good service at a fair and reasonable cost.