STATE INTERFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19557, 9 February 1927, Page 10

STATE INTERFERENCE.

Sir, —We venture to congratulate you on your general criticism of State interference in trade and commerce in the leading article on " Wool Sale Limits " on February S. While not desiring or presuming to criticiso the decisions of the Wool Committee, wo feel bound to support your general protest against 'the pernicious policy of State interference in almost every branch of business, and, one might also add, many branches of sport as well. The whole policy is preparing the way for nationalisation of our industries and activities—and this means bureaucratic management, which nine times out of ten leads to unbusinesslike methods and disastrous loss. Most of our commercial and other activities are now hampered by boards with powers of regulation, and directly a bureaucrat is given any power to make regulation, the immediate and certain result is to hamper freedom of action, to curtail private initiative and handicap the progressiva citizen. Yet these boards are being set up, not only by legislation, but also by Ordsrs-in-Council, and every session of Parliament seems to add to their number. Added to this form of State interference is the growing tendency of State departments, such as the Forestry Department, and others, to impose unfair and impossible conditions on legitimate enterprise. New Zealand Welfare League.