Page 9 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25287, 22 August 1945, Page 9

the people provide STATE IS SERVANT, NOT MASTER Again nn( l again statements have been" made Hint the acquisition of the Rank of New Zealand by the State will he "giving the hank to the people." This is n delusion. When the Rank becomes a. State institution, the ordinary man and woman will not "own" it or "direct" it to any greater extent than now. Mr Nash himself lias said —in order to put a favourable gloss on the purchase—that the Rank will continue to bo conducted as it is now. There is a lot of loose talk and thinking about State enterprises "belonging" to the people. The Socialises talk that way when they wish to acquire anything. but afterwards the State takes lip a possessive and dictatorial attitude. The State then tells the people what to do and what to pay. The State likes to spread the impression that it "gives" the people generous pensions, that it "gives" the people subsidies on clothes and butter and coal, that it "gives" our children free milk. "See how wonderful and powerful we are!" The Slate would like to exclaim. Rut all the money the State handles — all tlu l pensions and subsidies and social services it dispenses—all the power it possesses —come Irom the people. The people themselves pay in direct taxes and indirect taxes, and in increased charges hidden in the cost ol living. 'I he more money that is issued, the less the value of all money, and the fewer the poods each pound-note will buy. The result is slavery to the State. The question that citizens should constantly ask is this: Should the State be the servant of, or the master of, the people ?—Advt.