DELICENSING OF INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 31 August 1945, Page 5

DELICENSING OF INDUSTRY

MR H. T. MORTON’S VIEWS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington. August 30 I The delicensing of the fish industry . would, he hoped, be the forerunner of many similar delicensing acts by the i Government, said Mr H. T. Morton . (National. Waitemata) speaking in the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives. “We want to get back to the days when men were free to start in the business they w’anted to.” added Mr Morton. “The men coming back from the war will demand this privilege. The w’ar is over. Con- , trols should go." Mr Morton said the prosperity of . New’ Zealand had not been built up by big monopolies and by the big men, but largely by the small private business man and small private traders. It was ihe small traders, whom he personally admired, who were feeling the pinch at the present time. Where would the great city of Wellington have been but for the small business people? To-day when persons wanted to start up in business they had to go cap in hand to some big poo-bah in the Government and seek permission. That w r as a bad principle. Only that day. continued M” Morton, he had read in the newspapers that petrol licensing w’as going to be abolished in Australia in the immediate future. Could the New Zealand Government give such an assurance? No. It was going to keep on controls as long as it could. COUNTRY OF MONOPOLIES The Labour Government in New Zealand was fostering the big people, the big monopolies. If the Government looked into the matter he was sure that tendency would be found. New Zealand was rapidly becoming a country of monopolies. The big man could get licenses to import and manufacture anything from tyres to anything else, while the door was absolutely closed on the small man. “I say that with all the vigour at my command,” added Mr Morton. “We want to see that altered, and we of the National Party shall not rest until we get back to the day ■ of freed ‘in for tnc small man and a chance to take a chance:" The Minister of Works (Mr Semple) said that unless the Government was a suicide squad it would not want to shackle and restrict citizens. As soon as the supply position in proved restrictions would be lifted. The Government had no control over the quantity of petrol that came into New- Zealand but the amount consumed must be de termined by supply. Australia had been (oughf.r than New Zealand in regard to restrictions.