SOME IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10109, 17 October 1917, Page 4

SOME IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSALS.

The House, by adopting Mr Sidey s amendment referring the report back to tho Committee, practically recognised the absurdity of the proposal to invest the Fond Controller with such plenary powers as wore suggested. Mr Sidey (himself a member of the Committee, ami a level-headed business man) in moving it, pointed out that, in the one item of meat alone, a reduction of one penny pur lb in the local soiling price would involve the country in an annual expenditure of ,t 1,000,000. Sir Joseph Ward, in dealing with the business, said that while nobody could say how much the Committee’s proposal meant, the expenditure proposed could easily run into three or four millions, which would have to ho found by taxation, lie went on to point out that ‘‘one man, a Food Controller, was to have plenary power to levy on the public revenues for the benefit oi the people who had to provide the revenues. 1m: exercise of such powers, however, would in tin' long run benefit no one, and the business might well end in financial chaos. The Minister of Finance clearly indicated his unwillingness to accept, as a colleague, a Minister whose plenary and over-riding powers would give him the practical control of the internal expenditure of the country, am we imagine neither Mr Massey, noi any other of his and Sir Joseph Ward s joint colleagues, would be prepared to simply stand on one side and acquiesce in the decisions of tho Food -Coutrollei. Some of the Committee’s recommendations might, however, be well acted upon, as for instance the proposals dealing with tho protection of tho pu )- lie’from short weight and short measure. and providing for the vigorous j development of the fishing indnstiy throughout the Dominion. But, whether it is doomed expedient or otherwise to establish “a State-controlled co-opcrativo lino of steamers, lor the carriage of tho imports ami exports of the Dominion, and for meeting the requirements of the inter-coastal and Islands trade” (which is one of the proposals made by the Committee), the time for taking such action is not yet. The. steamers arc neither available nor can arrangements he made ior their construction until alter the war. It is, therefore, merely beating the air to talk about impracticable schemes as a means of relieving the difficulties of tho present time. The proposal that “the Government should undertake the purchase and wholesale and retail distribution of gooifs, by sale or otherwise is also equally impossible of achievement. Even were it practical it would involve an enormous and wholly I undesirable addition to the already heavy roll of State servants, and there is no guarantee that, were the proposal adopted, it would prove a payable proposition to the Stale, nor that the public would he hotter served. Tiio House acted wisely in referring the report hack to the Committee for its further consideration.