NO EXPLOITATION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20715, 27 January 1939, Page 9

NO EXPLOITATION

GOVERNMENT VIGILANT HOUSES. FLOATS AND SHOPS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday A warning that exploitation of a form, including not only prices of goods, but also rental of houses, flats and shops would not be tolerated by the Government was given by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview. The main reason given for increases in prices, he said, was that people had more money to spend, but it was not the objective of i .‘hour to allow increased prices to absorb the extra purchasing power. Mr Savage said that not only must the Government prevent a man selling boots and shoes, for instance, from increasing his prices without justification, but also to be consistent it must see to it that that man was not exploited by his landlord. “We cannot allow the landlord a free hand to exploit the seller of boots and shoes, while the seller of boots and shoes is prevented from passing on increases to the public,” Mr Savage said. "The prevention of exploitation has got to be applied right through, from the rent of the shop to the sale of commodities. “We do not want to prevent anybody from getting a fair return from his business, but we do not intend to allow any section of the community to exploit the rest of the community by taking advantage of a sheltered position, or because of a shortage of supplies. The Government will be bound to consider seriously the prevention of exploitation in all forms of buildings, including houses and flats for letting purposes. If the owner of a flat, house or shop gets more than his fair share of New Zealand's production all other sections of the community must gel less.”