MR. A. FAIRBAIRN'S VIEW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 6

MR. A. FAIRBAIRN'S VIEW.

" ] roaard tie- proposed board as unsatisfactory, ' said Air Audrow T>'uhairn- ''Although it is in tho right, direction. it does nob go far onoug.liThe Cost, of Living: Commission of IDI3 reeommended the, "setting up. of an Industrial and Social Board of Investiga- j t-ion, tho idou being t-liafc it. would- obviate the practice of appointing Royal Cunim is si on s on every occasion when tho Government, proposed to introduce fresh legislation. This could have been done in the present, cast'. There is nothing now <is far .as that idea is concerned. It is in operation in America. Tliey havo «i permanent office, where all 'members of (1 think) hoi It -Stato ; and Federal. Parliaments can got. the fullest information on any jnvou subject. Here wo are to hare a Hoard of Trade consisting of the Minister of hi- j dustry and Commerce and two others. ' That. I consider, is bud. A hoard ot that kind should, bo non-political and impartial. Jis business should he advise tho Government in regard to a.nv proposed legislation, and it should he vested with a,ll thy powers of a Royal Oommiesjon. with tho right, of disc-ovor.v of books, documents and so? on. Tho recommendations o.t tho Cost of Liviup; Commission of 1912 for tho setting un of a per man I'lit board o!'< industrial investigation. with full powers to call for persons and papers, worn put forward by Mr Fairbaini a* the wisest course. Tho functions of this board mav be quoted as follows (a.) To investigate all comphi.inis under 'tho Commercial Trusts Act, pro-, iiminary to .iudjuaj proceed in;.; taken. (J>} To - tmyc

| monopolies. trusts ;o»l ring* are csfaU--1 lediitig ihcmsi'lves. I (<•') T<> report Ilv* result o-l* their in- \ vstigai ioiik i-> -in' .Minisi.-T of Com- : in. in-, who shall immediately j>ub!j-1i j -11 li id i ug>. I t'li T<> investigate and report t-s> ih• Ari.it rat ion ( our. on any mutters siiu- } jiii tt. < I to it l>y the Court, with I 1m anv point, in practical or theoretic.af I i ciMioinies arising out o! an industrial ■ 'irnut''. ■ (.•) To ;i<)vi.v on the pto'noM.. effects j of' ;i)i y c.ha.ngo m the fiscal f )!• liila.iK'ial poljcv ot tlic conntry whicj; liuiv bo submit led to it by the (or,' Crete em i for iiivestigar.iou. j M) To arrange lor (ho collection and regular publiea i,nn of sue)) mark'-! report- as shall bt> useful to the puhli" oi New aland. i <r) Generally to ad 1 . w (he (lovemluent on ;mv matter nUceting ihe industrial and. economic condition ol the people. Note I. It: should he observed that this board. is merely an advisory body, and its main function, and one which tin- commission Jays greaL stress on. is '-1 i<*? Imiilt. thr farts of « given problem and pronouncing an expert opinion on these for the information of the public and the u e e of tlie Government. (2) It is essential that the board should be representative of" the various classes of the people, and if should contain at least tiro export economists. (TJ) If the Covernment, .sees fit. to adopt tb'- recommendation. the commission thinks that, the advisory board to the. Government .statistician (mentioned in reeoinmend'atiou 11 might be constituted of a committee of the permanent Board of Investiga tiou. LIMITATION OF POWERS, i Mr Pairhairri remarked liiat the i measure now before Parliament pro- ! posed to extend the. functions of t lie j ( nnmiercial Trusts Act so as to include- | all foodstuffs. This was clearly a step |in the right. direction. But it did not jgo tar enough. If ii was wrong to j corner the butter market, it must' lv? I equally wrong to corner 'the soap market, or the boot market, or any commodity. If the principle of free and j competitive. trade w a,s going to be 'established by this a mend nor. measure j tho Act; should be widened to cover all" commerce. So long as a- £4 roup of individuals could meet secretly and' determine ibe. prices that the community must- pay, tho law of supply and demand Mas non-existent. This was equivalent to -allowing a secret meeting 1 of employers) to fix wages for their em- | ployees. If prices must lie fixed, they should, be fixed h,v an impartial tribunal free from political and trade influences.