AUSTRALIAN STATE TRADING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN STATE TRADING.

AN ABSOLUTE FIASCO (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 28. Alderman 0. Jenkinson, of Queensland, to-day defined municipal trading in Australia as an absolute fiasco. He states that the Queensland Government commenced a trading concern in the sale of meat, and established butchers’ shops. The first difficulty encountered was in securing contracts for supplies from the farmers. It then purchased stations in various parts of the State at very high prices, but the drought came along and brought a slump in the meat trade. The result is that the stations show a loss after two years’ work of about £BOO,OOB. Furthermore, the Government has not supplied meat any cheaper than the private concerns. There have been numerous instances of peecadilloing. The same remarks apply to tho establishment of State fish shops and sawunills. Instead of being money-making concerns they have shown losses. The quality of Ihe goods, supplied has proved no hotter than under private enterprise, and tho price has been no cheaper. One notable exception is the Baabinda. State Hotel. In that case it is only the sale of liquor, which the Government has pushed for all it is worth, that has enabled the concern to show a profit. Mr Jenkinson refers lb Mr Theodore (tho Prime Minister of Queensland) as a very able man with a great, personality;- Ultimately, he thinks, Mr Theodore will be Prime’ Minister of Australia.