Government Will Stop House Exploitation

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 8

Government Will Stop House Exploitation

-MR. SAVAGE [Special to “NtortUem \Advooate”] WELLINGTON, Thursday. ' The determination of the Government to take action that will prevent all forms of exploitation of the people was expressed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview with “The Standard.”

He said that the main reason given for increases in wages, was that the people could buy more goods with the money at their disposal. It was not the objective of Labour to allow increased prices to absorb the extra purchasing power that was given to the people. The Government would take , whatever steps were necessary to ensure that the people were not exploited by unjustifiable increases in the prices of commodities. No Free Hand for Landlord. Not only must the Government pre.vent the man selling boots and shoes, for instance, from increasing his prices without justification, but, to be consistent, it must see to it that that man was not exploited by the landlord.

“We cannot allow the landlord a free hand to exploit the, seller of boots and shoes while the seller of boots and shoes is prevented from passing on increases to the public/’ Mi'. Savage added. “The prevention of exploitation h,as got to be applied right through from the rent of the shop to the sale of commodities.

Shortage of Supplies.

“Wo don’t want to prevent anybody from getting a fair return from his business, but to allow any section, of the community to exploit the rest of the community by taking advantage of ,a sheltered position and because of a shortage of supplies will not be allowed.

“The Government* will be bound to consider seriously the prevention of exploitation in all forms of buildings, including houses and flats for letting purposes.

“If the owner of a flat, a house or a shop gets more than his fair share of New Zealand’s production all other sections of the community must get less.”