CHAIN STORES ENQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 12

CHAIN STORES ENQUIRY

UNFAIR . DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED manufacturing and distributing CONCERNS (rasas association tkmgbaai.) WELLINGTON. October 1. The chain stores, enquiry was resumed to-day, Mr 3 . Hodgens. MJP.. presiding over the Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry. The chairman said the committee had decided to confine the investigation in fee activities of chain and stores, as covered by the Evidence ytas given by D.J. Mouatt. manager of Food Stuffs, .Ltd.,■ _vmo Maimed feat unfair discrimmationwis made by manufacturmg and distributing concerns on many staple commodities. By refusing admission to feeir wholesale lists these firms placed traders against whbm the discruninahon was made at a serious disadvantage. The Colonial Sugar Company, Ltd., Auckland, he claimed, afforded a glarSng instance of unwarranted discrimination being made; His company could not purchase sugar from me Colonial Sugar Company, wmch supplied firms directly or indirectly interested in chain stores. , J F. Turnbull, president of fee Wellington Master Grocers’ Association, submitted the following proposals:— (1) That where departmental or bargain stores engage in fee sale of any articles or lines coming within the scope of any trade or business which is governed by an award, they be compelled to apply throughout the whole of the stores the rate of wages and conditions of fee awards most beneficial to the employee*;. (2) That the manufacturer or producer of any articles or goods should be empowered to fix a retail price fit which his goods must oe S °The hearing was adjourned to next Thursday. '