PROFITEERING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19833, 27 December 1919, Page 2

PROFITEERING.

WHEN DEATH WAS THE PENALTY Death waa the penalty for profiteering in ancient Rome. Hoarding mul 11 cornering liio market” were likewise mads capital offences. That picturesque old warrior-em-peror, Diocletian, who rose from, a peasant's hovel in Dalmatia to the throne which made him master of ihe world, issued an edict in the year HO I A.D., the oroamble of which portrays a state of affairs almost identical with conditions existing at the present tune, in the opinion of r well known writer on economic subjects. Tim people, groaning under a load of taxation, were, in addition, compelled to pay prices for food, clothing and other necessaries which must. hare .made living well nigh impossible. “ H the raging avarice,” in the wording of the Diocletian preamble, *’ which, in utter disregard or humane principles, continue to increase as it has been doing by leaps and bounds, not only from v onr to year, month to month or even day to day, but, so to epeak, from hour to hour, nay, from minute to minut.e--if this avarice could be held in check by an ethical regard for moderation; or. if the condition of the people were such that thev could bear tho burden of this mad license, there might be justification in trying to wink at the situation and saying nothing. “It is our pleasure, vliercfore, tint those prices which the subjoined summary specifies, oe held as the prevailing rates throughout our empire: and know all that license 10 exceed these prices is forbidden. . . . ‘’And likewise we ordain that if a: y shall violate tnc miv he pets his life in jeopardy,” 1