PROFITEERING.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 151034, 28 July 1919, Page 2

PROFITEERING.

n AN OUTSPOKEN CLERGYMAN. .r "OAPITALIsiTbIGGING ITS GRAVE." „ "I firmly believe that if the public k only knew the enormous profits . some i ' firms are making by fleecing the people " thero would be a revolution in the coun- * i try," remarked the Rev.- J. G. Chap- '" man in speaking at the Taranaki-atreet Methodist Ohurch, at Wellington, on "A Truth for Commercial and Social Life." ''The man who practises dishonesty and fraud during the week," he said, "and puts an extra half crown on the collection plate to salve his conscience and to get on the right side of God, is a fool for his pains.. Deceit is the sign of in- | feriority, because it runs toward the 1 animal conditions of life. Animals live j by craft and guile. The fox, for , example, is cunningness incarnate. There is a good deal of foxiness in business to-day. 'But a man must live,' is a cant phrase. lam not aware of any necessity that you should live. Some people would be better in heaven. What is really meant by that phrase—'a man must live'—is that one is justified in getting by foul means what he cannot get by fair." Continuing, he referred to the "iniquitous profiteering" that was going on, and "the scandalous way in which the public is being fleeced." Etc marvelled that . they tolerated ;t. In Italy the people had taken the matter into their own hands, and had forced the Government s I to stop the robbery of the puWic. "What I a splendid opportunity offers the leaders | of the Labour Party," he said, "to call ■the members of their party to form a ! procession and inarch to Parliament j : House and demand that (stringent -"j measures be adopted to put down this j scandalous profiteering. I believe that ia large proportion of the population ot'i .Wellington would be willing to join! such procession. I should £c happy to carry one of the banners myself. "Capitalism is digging its own grave, and 1 should be most happy to officiate at its funeral. Sir James Allen, replying to a deputation, a few days ago, said: '\'ou forget that Capitalism is sometimes generous.' We don't want generosity; we ask for justice and fairiiess. A tradesman said to me, 'We can get any price we like to charge for our stuff. The people want it and are prepared to.pay for it.' 'But what of those who need it and cannot afford to pay the prices charged, 3 I agked. With a shrug of the shoulders he said, 'They must go without.' A fine example of 'Capitalism's generosity.' "I do not believe'that the late war was a capitalist's war," he concluded, "but I know that capitalists are making the war an excuse for charging exces^ sively high prices. I would be willing to join a league, the members of which would pledge themselves not to purchase a single article of clothing until i prices fell to a fair and equitable rate. Better go arrayed in sackcloth and sit in ashes than support a business firm that is fattening on the unsophisticated and long-suffering public." ; In connection with the above a correspondent of the "Post" writes:— lour report of a speech delivered by tne Rev. J. G. Chapman, of Taranaki street Methodist Church, must have come as m bomb-shell to the honest . traders of Wellington. The reverend sweeping charges and in- . smuatioiis would convey the impression . uiitiiougi; he does not actually 'nay so, ■ tnatt here is scarcely an honest trader m me city. I am quito pic^ared v, admit that profiteering has been indulged in, but not to any gieat extent, and where the itev. Mr. discovers one profiteer I will iind him at ■ least twenty honest business men. j . fluid no brief for Wellington traders,! _i and do not even reside in the city but ins wholesale condemnation of 'commercial and business firms is unjust unfair, and unwarranted. If the reverend gentleman knows of firms who are fleecing-the public, why does he not get clown to concrete facts and publicly denounce them? Generalities, such as he indulges m, are useless, and condemn alike, the innocent with the guilty. Such speeches coming from a ! man m his position only serve to increase the alarming and widespread t discontent this country is now suffering ; irom, and, although I must admit that : there is some cause for the unrest, the ; remedy is a problem certainly beyond ; the power of parson, politician, im- ) porter, or anyone in New Zealand i Ihe question arises: Has the Rev. j «• **• Cnapman sufficient expert know ■ iedge of the subject to warrant his at- , tempo to enlighten others rl. ihe aiij swer must emphatically be "No " Does 'he know that the greater proportion or goods sold by drapers are imported from other countries? Does he know ! tjiat the landed cost of imported goods •has advanced 100, 200, and in some .cases even up to 400 per cent, during i the past four years? Again, does lie know that tne retail price of an article must be governed by the cost to the retailer? Judging from his speech he has no such knowledge. He is also probably igndrant of the fact that essential" drapery goods, such as calicoes, sheetings, flannelettes, towels quilts, prints, cashmere hosiery, and many such lines, are being retailed today in Wellington, and other parts of JNew Zealand, at the present landed cost of such goods. Why? Because they were bought before the mere recent heavy rises, and in practically no instance is advantage being taken Again, I doubt if the reverend gentleman knows that the black cloth from which his coat is cut, and which probably cost the local tailor 12s 6d per yard before the war, now costs at least 61 s 6u per yard. As this cloth is not made m New Zealand, how is it possiblo for the tailor to sell except at a big increase on pre-war prices? Another instance: Christy's clerical hats, the landed cost of which was about 54s per dozen four years ago, cannot now bo landed under 200s per dozen. The remedy for high price of drapery is not to be found in New Zealand. I would suggest that the Rev. Mr. Chapman ! should get into communication with some of tne leading manufacturers of the world. ,The replies .would doubtless be interesting, even if unsatisfactory. What is the position ? Are New j Zealand traders to go out of business, jor are they to continue trying to moot the. demands of their customers? I would venture the opinion that, irrespective • of-price, essential draper? goods will still be required. \ .