CONTROL OF INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 14

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY

THREAT OF MONOPOLIES WARNING BY FARMERS’ UNION (Per'United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. 1 “If control is brought about, it will be the fault of private enterprise for trying to squeeze the last penny out of the producer,” said Mr I. L. M. Coop, president of the North Canterbury District of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, speaking at the Provincial Conference on control in industry. “ I believe in control when it is absolutely necessary,” he said. _ “ While private enterprise is acting in competition and produce is fetching its value, then I believe in private enterprise, but when firms amalgamate and form themselves into a monopoly so jdiat there is only one buyer, then there is nothing else left for the farmer to do but to ask for control. If there is only one buyer, there must be only one seller. Otherwise, through lack of buying competition, the multitude of sellers will be placed at a distinct disadvantage. The farmer is an individual who likes to manage his own business without having an army of inspectors or any restrictions placed upon him, but he will quickly ask for protection if he finds that monopoly i= getting the better of him.”