DEALING WITH PROFITEERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 5

DEALING WITH PROFITEERS.

SPECIAL COURTS SET UP. LINES OF MILITARY TRIBUNALS. (Received 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, August 7. The Government is introducing a bill to establish special tribunals to deal with profiteering. Sir Auckland Geddes gave evidence before the Profiteering Committee that the new tribunals would be similar to the military service tribunals, empowered to inflict fines up to £20 or refer the ease to a court of summary jurisdiction, which is empowered to inflict penalties up to £200 or six months' imprisonment. Appeal tribunals will the established for the protection of traders. The Government is considering whether it is possible to make the profiteers disgorge unfair profits already accumulated. —(A. and N.Z. Caible.) The introduction of the Government's bill was a bombshell to the Profiteering Committee, which is considering discontinuance of ite investigations, on the ground that the Government 'has decided the matter.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) A DRASTIC BILL. GAOL FOR BREACH OF LAW. LONDON. August 7. The Government is introducing a drastic bill providing a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment for profiteers. Mr. G. H. Roberts, the Food Controller, giving evidence before the Select Committee on Profiteering, said that practically all food was controlled. Ninety-four per cent of foodstuffs were subject to maximum prices. Nothing of importance was omitted except some green vegetables and some fruits.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)