“Commercial Cockroaches”

N.Z. Goodwill Minister's Tilt at the Big Firms

HTHE big firms of the South Seas—es pecially Burns, Philp and Co., Morris Hedstrom Ltd., and W. R. Carpenter and and Co. Ltd. —have been called many things, from public benefactors to san guinary monopolists; but it remained for Mr. Langstone, the Socialist Minister for Lands from New Zealand, to coin a new term of endearment.

In Samoa on a “Goodwill mission,” this Minister proceeded to preach Socialism to a gathering of sceptical and resentful planters. He said that the N.Z. Govern ment, as part of its plan for the economic salvation of New Zealand, will create a gigantic marketing organisation for handling New Zealand produce abroad, and that, if Samoa was good and respect ful, this marketing organisation might sell copra and cocoa for the planters.

“We shall do it on a big national scale,” declared the Minister, “and in that way you will have a better chance of get ting good prices than if your produce is taken and handled by these—er—” he waved his hand towards the big stores on the waterfront, “by these commercial cockroaches!”

The planters were amused, but not im pressed. “The big firms may be cock roaches,” said one, “but it was the big firms, and not the New Zealand Govern ment, which kept a lot of us planters going right through the depression. None of the firms has ever refused help to a real trier. But, because they have the temerity to carry on a private business, and try to make profits for their owners, this wide-visioned gentleman from New Zealand calls them cockroaches!”