PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 10

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

ENCROACHMENT BY STATE.

POST OFFICE AND IMPORTS.

QUESTIONS TO BE "TACKLED."

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

[BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Monday.

An indication that the Government intends to check drastically encroachment by tho Stato on tho field of legitimate private enterprise was given by tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, in a speech at tho dinner given to-night in honour of the British Trade Commissioner, Mr. L. B. Bealo.

"Before very long—we may have to wait until next session—the Government is going to ask the House to tackle this question of interference by the State with the trade of tho people," said tho Prime Minister. "It is a very serious matter. What is the position to-day ? Tho country has provided millions of pounds for the purpose of carrying out great hydro-elec-tric schemes to which the taxpayer has contributed. It was never contemplated that in tho end the people should find these concerns actively engaged in competition with them and stopping men in every town in New Zealand from having tho right to sell tho ordinary supplies necessary. It is a penny wise and pound foolish policy, and a very undesirable thing to do. "Who is it that wo are relying upon for income tax ?" Sir Joseph asked. "Is it not the taxpayer ? What are wo doing ? We are killing tho ratepayer. We are killing the men who are providing the interest on the loans for these works.

"We are also going to stop the importation of goods through tho Post Office by people who ought not to do it," the Prime Minister declared. "They send to tho Homeland £4 or £5, invest it there, and get things delivered. These people are stopping the local trader. They are hurling the worker, they are hurting the public, and they cannot see liow they are doing an injury to the country as a whole. It is a fair thing that the people who provide tho taxes should not be brought into competition with tho Government or municipal institutions, which do not pay any rates themselves. We aro killing the goose that lays the golden egg."-