THE PUBLIC PAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 August 1945, Page 6

THE PUBLIC PAYS

STATE TRADING LOSSES. The public seldom hear the financial details of Slate activities, and they do not read Departmental reports. Therefore few people are acquainted with the figures shown in the latest Report on the State Coalmines (dated 1944). 'lho profit and loss account; for the year ending March 31 gives this entry: Nett Loss. Liverpool mine £10.830 Dobsoir mine £20.046 Wallsend mine £22.747 Blackball mine £21.768 Tatu mine £28.483 With such results on one year's working one would think that the State would leave commercial and industrial activities to others, instead of bringing more coai mines under State ownership, as it has done over the last eighteen months. Put the country is being governed by politicians obsessed with the idea of State ownership, who want power and control at any price. In ppite of the losses and inefficiency inherent in so many State trading activities, the State is always eager to interfere and to enlarge its sphere, of activity. If Bureaucracy becomes rampant, the public is patient." When losses ensue, the public pays. There is the example of Queensland, where a Socialist Government conducted Stale mine*, canneries, shops and other ventures to such an extent that a total loss of £3.668.429 was involved. This money came from the taxpayers' pockets. It is time for .the public to call a halt to New Zealand's State Ownership fanatics, whoso next move is to take over the Bank of New Zealand and the Internal Air Services.*