TREND OF LEGISLATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 304, 21 November 1936, Page 8

TREND OF LEGISLATION.

CONCERN EXPRESSED. HEAVY TAXATION. - Per Press-Association.. WELLINGTON, Noy. 20. : Referring to legislation .passed r] by 1 the Government or the Dominion /laSiisession, Mr Norton Francis, retiring president of the New Zealand Associated Chambers of Commerce, stressed the dangers which he 11 considered lay ahead. “The New Zealand Chambers , pi’ Commerce . have : endeavoured; to advance their.'viewpoint of what constitutes public interest, and';it wil 1 increasingly become- their -duty to do this in rutiire,” he said. “ With every regard to progress three dangers ap l pear: Firstly, precipitate action and over-zealousness in legislation in a desire to make New; Zealand - a leading legislative laboratory; secondly, insufficient regal'd’ for. thesound arid proven principles underlying individual enterprise as opposed to • State regimentation and, thirdly, inexpert use and administration of the immense socialistic powers how in the hands of the Government.' Since these powers are on trial in this,' country ; ior the first time how great is the dagger of iriexpertiiess? ; Everything depends on administration because; .the great powers taken to, try to; achieve great successes can also lead to great failures. . “So much for recent .legislation; in its broad aspects. There are,, however, certain factors already, an, .evidence which must cause grave , disquiet. . One of these is the increasing disregard which , is being .paid by, legislators to important . constitutional •safeguards. I speak of The manner in which Acts have been placed on. the Statute Book without giying the affected parties the right of appeal -from Ministerial or departmental decisions on matters affecting businesses, estates and even the liberty of citizens. Laying aside all argument coricerriing, the merits and demerits of any .given piece of legislation, surely no get of professed economic - expediency can • be justified in that part of it which-finds it ■ expedient • also to -abolish • one of the safeguards in a system -of British justice. - -• • i .1 ;. A “We are : told that - (decisions. • whioh are to a large- extent administrative, should receive protection from the delay and expense • involved-in litigation which, in general, would'not-’alter the final result.’ Surely it" is not-protec-tion of a decision but protection of. the person affected by ■ the decision .which is vital. A decision which is sound rind just will not suffer in the test of- .a British Court. We are- moving- 0n,.t0 a- greater realisation of; the State of which Lord Hewart wrote of: ‘Government by a vast army of anonymous officials hidden Irdni view, but placed above • the law,’ ” said Mr Francis. . Dealing with the increase . in the number of civil servants, the • speaker said that private business - must continue to retain a personnel' for .the conduct of afftlirs unless a. Ciyil., Sjjfr vied of frightening diniefisions is to be built up for the'administration of all business by the .State.i “As it is,” he continued, ‘.‘taxation is heavy upon'us. Under the Budget, income tax'is to be increased' arid graduated land tax and. other burdens have been imposed, offering a . direct contrast with the Federal 'Budget .for Australia, which has. afforded ari allround relief f rom the burden of special and emergency taxation imposed- at the onset of the depression, years, at the same time, risit has given the benefits of a domestic and social char? acter, includirig restoration of ,tho Public Service- salaries. , By, compaxi-; son, Australia is in calm. water, • buff this Dominion . lias yet 'to , discover what is m store for her.” - : ;