On Wednesday the House of Comm:pis began its business by
passing a Resolution in favour of an inquiry by a Joint Com- mittee into the subject of municipal trading. While we have no great sympathy with the capitalists who—not unnaturally, however, from their point of view—dislike municipal trading because it often excludes them from very lucrative opportunities for investment, we realise that there are considerable dangers and difficulties in giving a loose rein to municipal enterprise. The ideal would seem to be that municipalities should only carry on a business where by the nature of things that busi- ness must be a monopoly. There can be only one set of tram lines laid in a street; therefore we hold that such lines should be owned by the municipality—whether they work them themselves or lease out the working is immaterial—and not granted away to a company. But on all these matters we want more light, and not mere confused, and no doubt often unfair, accusations,—on the one hand, that the trading com- panies are inclined to use corrupt means to obtain concessions, and on the other, that the municipalities desire to engage in Political or Socialistic jobs. An inquiry and well-thought-out Report will clear the air.
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