STATE CONTROL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 1682, 2 June 1919, Page 5

STATE CONTROL.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL ANSWERS A CRITIC. * A TEN MILLION ESTIMATE. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell (Attorneygeneral) gave a "ijytteltoii Times" representative an interview in wiiich he replied to criticism of liis views on State control.. "I observe that in Mr Wi gram's letter appearing in tho issue of the 'Lyttelton Times' of the 14th instant, 1 ' said Sir Francis Bell, "lie writes that lie is serious in asking certain questions, but does not repudiate my suggestion that ho could not have been serious when he penned the paragraph in ins earlier letter in which he enunciated the ludicrous proposition that because Sir Francis Bell had drafted an .letproviding for a poll upon three issues, including State control, therefore Sir Fi ■ancis Bell must- have satisfied himself that State control would prove a workable measure if carried. I also observe that Mr Wigram does not reply to my question put to illustrate the absurdity of his humorous proposition.I asked whether the fact that Mr "VVigram voted for the Bill proved him to be in favour of anotaer of the issues at the. poll authorised by the same Act namely, National Prohibition. The short method by which the editor of the 'Lyttelton Times' (who declares he cannot understand me) can ascertain the policy of the Government and the effect if State control is carried, is to read the Act. And the short method by which Mr Wigram can enable tho people of Canterbury to understand that policy and effect* is to arrange for tne publication in some newspaper of those sections of the Act (65 to 71 inclusive) which under the heading 'Effect of State Purchase anci Control occupy four full pages of •the Statute Book. There thev wi!l find my previous effort to set fortn in plain language the effect if that issur were carried, and T must bs pardoned if I cannot agree with my critics that there is obscurity in my statutory exnre.-;-fcJon.

"Mr VVigram desires that I should 1 mow declare .n what manner t'h.. : - controller of the trade in liquor will initiate and carry on liis nove. and va. uablo functions. . My answer is that I do not know, and that I shall certainly not attempt till© direction of the controller's mc-thod, if the controller ever comes -nto being. And my ..further answer is that it is not the. business or duty of the Govemmcn/p, or of ' any Minister, to predict what the controilfi or what he will not do, Jrhen (if ever) the controller's dut'es begin.

"I briefly refer to Mr Wierara's SUfrgenion tfofitr it would 1)p pjood busiJiess for tlie Government to p;iv four

mid a half millions to the Trade as compensation, and thereafter proceed To acquire premises and business sites requ.red for tiie State trade. , I ihavn a genuine* inspect for the business capacity of the 'JL'radi \ and ?m therefore convinced tha,t the premises an'i business sites in which the Trade now carries oil the manufacture and sab of liquor are the best suited for those purposes. To pay a person for depreciation of a property the freehoJd of \vh c-h you propose to bny from him immediately after depreciation lias been paid for does not appear a sat'sfactory method for the purchaser. But whether the premises and sit "s now occupied by the Trade, or otJi.'U' premises and gift's, are acquired by the State is immaterial in the es.timp.tien of the cost to the State. In either case it would c?st the State at lens. f ten mil- - of moipr to compensate the Trade a,"d to <\stnT)>'sh the manufacture of b'qnor and acqirre site.s. for carrying on the State's who'esale and retail trade."