TRADE PRACTICES COMMISSION

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28802, 24 January 1959, Page 14

TRADE PRACTICES COMMISSION

“Ideal Time To Revitalise” (New Zealana Preu Association) AUCKLAND, January 23. Now was an ideal time to revitalise the Trade Practices and Price Commission fey appointing practical men with wide experience in trade, the president of the Constitutional Society <Mr J. Scott-Davidson) said in Auckland today. The resignation of all three part-time members of the commission made possible a reorganisation which was vital to ensure the respect and confidence required for an authority with such wide powers over trade and industry, he said. When the Trade Practices Bill was before Parliament, the Constitutional Society showed how far the bill fell short compared with the English legislation on which it was supposedly modelled, he continued. The Government later met the society’s objections to some extent by providing for an appeal authority. _ The New Zealand Price Tribunal had been widely criticised for decisions apparently the result of ignorance of long-estab-lished trade systems. Novi It appeared that the Government intended to keep the existing fulltime members. This 'meant that the commission would -not have the advice of the part-time members, although its responsibilities had been so greatly expanded. Mr Scott-Davidson said. ‘ “The "Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Holloway) has expressed the opinion that after about five years there should be new life m such bodies,” Mr Scott-Davidson said. “Many people throughout New Zealand believe that it is urgently necessary to have new life in the Price Tribunal now.