EASING OF PRICE CONTROL

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 17

EASING OF PRICE CONTROL

“WELCOME PROGRESS” NOTED COMMENT ON EXEMPTION OF 80 MORE ITEMS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 20. “Very welcome progress in the removal of price control,’’ commented the chairman of the price control committee of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation (Mr A. D. Smith), referring to the latest list of price control exemptions. Mr Smith added that it was a little early to express final judgment on the new list, but it would give many retailers much more freedom to arrange their prices to meet current very competitive trading conditions. The new exemptions would not mean higher prices to consumers, but would enable traders to adjust their prices with much more flexibility than under price control. “The Minister seems to be making a realistic approach to price exemptions, and I am sure when he has received reports on other items he will find this pernicious and costly control can be removed from many more commodities without increasing the costs to consumers,” he said.

“It is pleasing that the Minister of Industries and Commerce has himself carried out the request he made to the Price Tribunal in October that a further decontrol list of goods and services be issued before the end of the year,” said Mr Donald Pool, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. “This latest list of 80 items, the third this year, is evidence that the Government is indeed following a progressive policy to remove price control from those goods and services which are in adequate supply and competition, and the Minister is to be commended on the manner in which he is expediting this policy. “At present, when the trading community is striving to meet the competitive elements which exist' with most goods, artificial controls only stultify the stimulus of competition, to the ultimate detriment of the consumer.

“We look forward to further decontrols in the New Year, and also the positive list of items which will then remain subject to price control. In this latter regard, however, we will watch with interest to see the basis upon which the list is compiled, particularly as to those items which, in the opinion of the Government, appear to be affected by trade restrictions.”