FIXATION OF PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 11

FIXATION OF PRICES.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY OPENED. LEGISLATION MAY BE NEEDED REMARKS BY MINISTER. " (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The tribunal appointed by the Government to inquire into the proposed operations of the Proprietary Articles a Trade Association, the object of which a is to tix the prices at which certain I articles ill common use may be sold, v commenced its sittings this morning. The Minister of Industries and Com- s 'merce. the Hon. A. D. McLeod, briefly ' explained why the committee had been * set up. He said the Government had . laid down a policy of non-interference u in business matters, and perhaps that * had been construed iii some quarters as v meaning that it would not be the duty 'of the Government at any time to inter- s fere in business. Personally, he believed * a government which itself was carrying J on business ventures in opposition to . the legitimate business interests of i private individuals should interfere as s little as possible. f As time went on, however, the Government, which was concerned with the * welfare of all sections of the community, would be obliged to interfere in •business matters where it was proved that business methods had been adopted I by one section of the community which were detrimentally affecting other see■tions. In regard to this inquiry, the ] tribunal had been set up to report to the Government what effect in its judgment the association's operations were likely to have on the general community, beneficial or detrimental. The Department of Industries and Commerce had advised \ those who were associated with the < *arly formation of the association that t it would probably be necessary to pro- t cure evidence on certain points which c were being raised, and they had complied with a suggestion that no move • should be made for the registration of ' the association pending the inquiry. The ( ' association had pointed out thai it was not aware of anything which prevented ' the formation of a body having the ! objects they stood for, but it had agreed not to proceed until the investigations ' took place. * "All the Government desires," said ! Mr. McLeod, "is a thorough investiga- : tion as far as you deem it wise to go, . and I am quite convinced, of your judicial capacity to come to sound con- '' elusions. The Government makes no sug- ' gestions to you in any way as to what course you should follow. The Board of 1 Trade Act gives you the necessary ! powers to report impartially to the i Government." - ' The Minister said that, in view of the possibility of legislation being necessary next session to give effect to the findings ' of the committee, he should like to have their report as soon as possible. The Minister then withdrew, and the ieommittee—Mr. W. B. Montgomery (exComptroller of Customs), Mr. W. R. Hayward (manufacturer, of Dunedin), Mr. M. J. Reardon .(ex-workers' representative on the Arbitration Court), and Mr. J. W. Collins (Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce) — discussed matters preliminary to the hearing of evidence.