FIXING OF PRICES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 18

FIXING OF PRICES.

ABSOLUTION Ot PROTEST. The following resolution was passed at a meeting on Thursday of the North Canterbury Branch of the Railway Officers' Institute:— "That this mooting of the North Canterbury Branch, N.Z.R.0.1., having considered evidence which proves that powerful influences are. orgaaising a movement with the sold object of increasing retail prices, consldere that such action is inimical to the •welfare of the community, more especially to the interests or wageearners, because:— (1) A rise in retail prices hat exactly the same effect as a general reductioh in money wages. (9) The prices of primary products having- fallen to pre-war levels, producers are unduly penalised by the action of prefixing combitjee, which prevent retail prices from finding, their economic level. , , (8) High retail prices restrict the consumption of goods and so nullify the factors which might otherwise hasten a return of prosperous times. "We draw the attention of PaHiament to the fact that, while the Government has subsidised the New Zealand tobacco industry, the National Tobacco Company has deliberately restricted the sales of their products by refusing to 6upply New Zealand tobacco to one of the largest retail firms, which by at a low rate of profit popularised this New Zealand industry. . "We insist that Parliament shall immediately enact legislation which will ensure that no retailer be penalised or hampered in business for the reason that ne fs prepared to sell dt a low rate of profit."