COMMERCIAL COMBINES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14127, 27 May 1920, Page 4

COMMERCIAL COMBINES.

More unadulterated rubbish is probably talked by Wellington business men than by any other body of commercial men in the Dominion. These Rip Van Winkles have either been asleep themselves for twenty years, or they think that the public have. For instance, at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the other day, one member talked seriously about competition righting prices. There is no such thing in this country as competition among those who control commodifies. These men are all linked up in one gigantic combine which is prepared to squeeze the retailer out of existence if he dares to sell under the price they stipulate. Evidence has been given before, tribunals in various ‘parts of New Zealand of liow this commercial combine has refused to supply goods to small tradesmen because the latter sold them somewhat cheaper tnan the scheduled price supplied by the merchants. The parrot cry of “supply and demand” governing everything was smothered years ago. It is now only a question of control. The war has shown us what a menace to civilisation trusts aud - combines are. New Zealand threatens to become as bad as America, in proportion to population, in the matter of trusts and combines, whose two principal objects are to fob the producer and then the public. How long this country will be compelled to put up with this wholesale robbery by trusts remains to be seen. The public of New Zealand, we are sure, are ready to cooperate with the shopkeeper and producer in a campaign which will, sweep away this menace.