REFRACTORY WITNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 26, 31 January 1921, Page 5

REFRACTORY WITNESS.

- I PvEFUSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE Not often does the Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal meet with refusal to supply it with evidence when required from traders and others. The , Tribunal, a.* far as possible, avoids givitiS trouble when in search of data on which to base a decision, but the fact should be made clear that it has powers 'j to make itself respected. In a case which came before it to-day Ij in which it had asked a -small firm for ' j certain information, the representative , | of the firm refused point-blank either to ' furnish the information or to appear before the Tribunal. Steps will accordingly be taken to subpoena the witness, • who will then become liable to the penalties attaching to contempt of court. Sale of a proprietary article at a higher price than the proprietor allowed was investigated by the Tribunal, which found that owing to transit charges the seller of the article had not asked an ' unreasonable price. Two cases were struck out because the complainants had not elected to go on with them. Inquiry into typewriter charges hayI ing shown that conditions complained ;j of exist throughout the Dominion, it was decided to refer the case to the ? Board of Trade for its consideration. Fresh complaints awaiting inquiry include the wholesale and retail price of bacon, between which there is alleged to be too great a discrepancy, rents which are not within the jurisdiction of the tribunal, allegations against an oil merchant, against a country storekeeper, against a painting firm and against a doctor. A would-be complainant wrote asking what fees and charges were to be met before bringing a complaint before the Tribunal. He will be informed that the G Tribunal is free and open to the public and that he has only to put his complaint in plain language and send in his facts and the Tribunal will duly inquire s into the case. l