THE BOARD OF TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 6

THE BOARD OF TRADE.

\FTER rather more mystery and certainly more delay than the circumstances seemed to necessitate, the Government has announced the personnel of the Board of Trade established under the Cost of Living Act. of 1915. Three not particularly wellknown gentlemen have been chosen. Possiblv a. wide reputation was not considered by the Government to be a desirable qualification for such an appointment, and it may be that, comparatively unknown men can approach the special duties of their office without prejudice. The appointment of Mi Patrick Hally will, we believe, fully justify itself. As Conciliation Commissioner in the Wellington district, Mr Hally has had an experience that should go far to equip him for the new position, while his tact and abiiitj will not be questioned among employers or employees with whose industrial differences he has been concerned. He is able to bring opposing forces together and remove obstacles to agreement in a manner that has frequently surprised both sides and the public, and his success in that, very useful sphere indicates the possession of considerable capacity in dealing with subjects which cannot be decided without regard for the human equation. Mr M ■ GM.’Don aid is known on the West. Coast as a capable lawyer and as one of broad sympathies and democratic tendencies." Tho value of a legal mind on the new Board of Trade is probably not small. Of Mr J. R. Hart we cannot speak with a confidence based upon much knowledge, but an ex-banker and farmer should he able to render good service on the Board of Trade. Frankly speaking, however, the names are on the whole not impressive, but neither

are the salaries offered particularly tempting. We are a little puzzled at the announcement that Mr Hally is to combine his new duties with those of Conciliation Commissioner, because th© Cost of Living Act expressly provides that any member of the board snail forfeit his appointment if he “engages during his term of office in any paid employment or any business outsido the dlities of his office." The duties and powers of the Board of Trade aro circumscribed by Statute. The board is to investigate and report, to advise and to suggest legislation which may appear to it advisable or necessary in connection with the problem of the cost of living. Very much useful work may be accomplished by such a- body if it- capably and enthusiastically takes up the duties, but very little may come of it all without, the sympathy and the active cooperation of the Government. The Cost of Living Act was passed without sufficient- deliberation at the end of a session that had been unsettling and amidst the excitements of the war. Nobody, so far as we are aware, has claimed for the measure any high degree of statesmanship or supposed that through it- was to be discovered the solution of a serious socialeconomic problem. But we were never among those who regarded the Act as having no merits. Indeed, we lia-vo felt all along that the test of the scheme has to be found in its admim istration, and that it does provide machinery for exploring grounds that need exploring. The Board of Trade, for example, may reasonably set itself to discover why since the war began groceries have risen in price 26 per cent at Dunedin, as against less than 17 per cent at Christchurch, and 23.40 per cent at Ashburton, while the increase is only 6 per cent at Timaru. It, may usefully inquire why dairy produce is 22 per cent dearer at Palmerston North, whereas at Taihape the prices are actually lower than before the war. The board’ may be able to ascertain why the rise in the cost of meat is twice as much in Christchurch as in Wellington, or why there should he an increase of nearly 40 per cent at Palmerston and only half that, rise at Masterton. Tile wheat question is one that the Board of Trade will have to, keep steadily in view if its existence is to be justified, with a vigilant eye upon those official returns that so confounded everybody last year. We anticipate that the members of the board will take up their duties with a determination to detect arid expose exploitation, and we are inclined’ to think there is plenty of scope for their activities. But their labours must be seconded by the Government if the public is to get fair value for the cost of the scheme.