RETAIL TOBACCO PRICES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21117, 19 March 1934, Page 4

RETAIL TOBACCO PRICES

CONFERENCE BEING HELD The lixing of uniform retail prices for tobacco and cigarettes is expected to follow a final conference of trade interests which is to be held in Wellington either this week or after Easter. A preliminary meeting to arrange matters for the conference was held in Wellington on Friday. It was stated in Auckland recently that the rates for two brands of American tobacco and one brand of American cigarettes had already been standardised. This resulted in the advertised price for the cigarettes being adhered to. and the charge for the tobacco being slightly increased. During the last session of Parliament the Government, by adding a clause to the Finance Bill No. 2, exempted tobacco, including cigars and ! cigarettes, from the operation ot the | Commercial Trusts Act.- The effect of the exemption of tobacco from the schedule to the act is to allow the ligation and maintenance of tobacco prices. An assurance was given by the Minister for Finance, the Rt. Hon. J G Coatcs. that if prices rose to an unreasonable level the Government would not hesitate to invoke the Board of Trade Act with a view to protecting the public. At a meeting in Hamilton recently of about 40 retail tobacconists from various parts of the Auckland province, a resolution was passed expressing the opinion that the retail prices of cigarettes should be 6d, Vd. Bd, and fid a packet, the present advertised prices. It was stated that no increase on those [rates was sought.