PRICES INVESTIGATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 57, 8 March 1921, Page 9

PRICES INVESTIGATION.

(To the Editor.) -Jir, The Prices Investigation Committee is too restricted in its examination of cases brought before it. For instances. A buys a pair of straps from B at 10/ and sells to Cat 13/6. A assesses the cost of handling thus—insurance. rent, wages and freight lo per cent, profit 10 per cent, a total of 35 per cent, or 3/6 on tbe prime cost to A. Assuming that C lays complaint, and A is exonerated from a charge of profiteering, but to foe really effective the Investigation Board should have power to sift things right down to the raw material, the hide, which sells at anything from -id to ijd per lb. One pair of straps weigh about 14oz and are equivalent to about 16ioz of hide, of a cost of about 9d. thus leaving 9/3 to 'be divided between the tanner and the strap maker. At the present time about 6/ or less would buy the wool nee«3sary for the beat suit, but the suit would cost several more pounds. I think the farmer is as much a. specialist as a tailor or tanner, and U as much entitled to protection, and if the authorities will not protect him from the middleman he must protect himself by working up as much as possible of his raw material and so take a hand in shaping his destiny. Just now it is an open qcestion whether it would not be more economical to turn pelts and hides into manure for the farm rather than pay all the expenses to market them, as with the excessive prices ruling for manures, and the present low values of produce, it is impossible to buy with any prospect of using with profit—l-am, etc..