GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1926, Page 11

GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

TOO MANY REGULATIONS. IRKSOME STATISTICS REQUIRED. PROTEST BY ELTHAM CHAMBER. (From Our Own Reporter.) Eltham, Aug. 18. Dissatisfaction at the alleged tendency to govern by Order-in-Council and at the vast amount of returns periodically required by Government departments was expressed at last night’s meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce when discussing remits to be forwarded to the annual conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. “It seems to me that there is far too much Government interference in priv de businesses,” said Mr. I. J. Bridger (president). He gave instances of the issuing of regulations restricting or -hampering the free conduct of business affairs, and pointed out that under the prevailing, tendency to govern by Order-in-Council, the average ratepayer had not the opportunity of becoming conversant with the proposed regulations before they became law. Under such conditions, it was quite possible for a person to offend without the least intention of doing so and without the knowledge that he had offended. “It seems to me,” said Mr. Bridger, “that the present tendency appears to be in the direction cf setting up new Government departments or divisions, wherever possible, all of which require revenue to meet working expenses, and that revenue comes out of the pockets of the general ratepayers.” “RIDICULOUS QUESTIONS." Mr. R. B. Foord mentioned the “great inconvenience and cost to which business men were continually being put through the mass of detail required in departmental returns.” Recently his firm had been asked to prepare an extensive return dealing. with private details of the business that could not conceivably be of use or information to the statistical. Mr. Bridger: What sort of details were you asked for? You should see what the borough council gets! Mr. Foord. - Well, for instance, we are asked ridiculous questions such as the amount of material we use in effecting repairs to motor-cars. Returns are also wanted as to the accessories, numbers and sizes of tyres, and other stock all garages keep on their shelves. Mr. J. H. Morton: Cannot the statistician get those particulars from the Customs and cover all the stuff in New Zealand at. once? , . |lr. Foord went on to draw attention to Ithe ; amount’ “of time lost in arriving at anything like an acCiitate answer to the many .cumbersome questions asked in the returns’. Mr. Bridger referred to the Town Planning Bill, statipe . that among other provisions, the. Bill required a municipality to furnish a cbfhplfete plan 6t illustration of its town •within three years. “In some cases,” he said, “the preparation of such a document will involve a fair amount of expenditure and its justification will be open to question.” ■ The matters under discussion were then referred to a sub committee set up to deal with such remits as might be suggested.