CHARGES AGAINST MERCHANTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13697, 29 May 1915, Page 7

CHARGES AGAINST MERCHANTS

MR FAIRBAIRN'S OPEN LETTER

PRIME .MINISTER DECLINES A CHALLENGE. (Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. . Mr Andrew Fairbairn, of Christ church, whose evidence before tho Food Commission pointed to exploitation by certain wholesale trader's, wrote an^opers letter to the Premier on May '18-hj which tho Evening Post has just puolished, having evidently -waited to submit it to t'he Right Hon. W. F. Massey for his answer. The Prime Ministe.-, however, declined to be drawn, aud the Post, m a foot note to Mr Fairbairn 3 I letter, says: "When interviewed by si Post reporter on the above matter, Mr Massey said he had not the slightest ob jection to Mr Fairbajrn obtaining a copy of his evidence, though it was a matter for the Commission to decide. On the other matters contained m the letter. Mr Massey .said he declined to enter into a controversy." •The Post Is not satisfied. It points out editorially that such an answer is ' small comfort to the people who hay** paid "war prices." On present evidence, it says the natural disposition of the public is to side with Mr Fairbairn. The average New Zealander is "inclined to regard the accused persons as guilty till they can submit proof of their innocence. Certain "war prices" have undoubtedly created -more than mere siispicion of exploitation, and the people await evidence to show that surh an opinion is incorrect or unfair. If Mr Fairbairn had made only vague charges, one could understand an indifferent attitude by the communJlv towards his words, but he has given chapter and verse. His charge de mands an answer but the answer waits. This lack "of an adequate reply to a mer chant who accuses other merchants of exorbitant profits goes necessarily to' shake public confidence m the Commission, whose enquiries have beeu conducted privately. The Post, which cannot be accused of bias against the Government, deals with Mr Fairbairn's arguments at some length, concluding: "The people expect an answer to the accuser's charges, and they have a right to ask for explanations. The silence and secrecy operate against the Government. The mood of the paying public is unmistakably .to believe m the old line, 'Silence gives consent.' It may be true that price, m New Zealand do not compare un favorably with the figures m other parts of the Empire, but any statement of that kind will not put Mr Fairbairn summarily out of court. The people want light on this dark, mysterious subject, and they will not be appeased till they get the illumination."