STATE COMPETITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17687, 16 April 1929, Page 8

STATE COMPETITION.

PRICES TO BE STANDARDISED. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Mr. Taverner, who came to Wellington one of the least known politically of Sir Joseph Ward’s Colleagues in the new Cabinet, has not been long in making himself acquainted with the details of the various administrative departments entrusted to his care. Railways, of course, occupy the greater part of his attention; but as side lines to this important trust he has charge of State Forestry, Customs, and other branches of State services needing constant supervision. At the moment he is engaged in a discussion with the Nurserymen’s Association, whose members contend that the State Forestry Department), which raises many thousands of trees each year for public purposes, should not sell its surplus supplies to private individuals The Minister has agreed to standardise prices, which he regards as a reasonable arrangement; but for the present, though an ardent “ private enterprise” advocate, he is not disposed to discontinue supplying trees to l ; and-liolders neding them in considerable quantities.