Direction For Cost Protests Suggested

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 3

Direction For Cost Protests Suggested

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 16. Protests against rising prices were natural and to be expected, but the important thing was to deal with the causes, rather than just criticise the effects, said the Leader of the Social Credit League (Mr V. F. Cracknell) today.

He was commenting on the Campaign Against Rising Prices.

“Social Credit naturally has much sympathy with housewives and others who have been seriously affected by rising costs,” he said. “In fact, our policy is basically con-

Meat Gift.—Fifty cases of meat products will be sent to the New Zealand medical team in South Vietnam as a gift to mark the opening of the new St George food processing factory at Pukekohe-—(P-A.)

cemed with the costs structure of the country and ways to remedy this. “The more important aspect, however, is that under the present system, neither the Government nor the Labour Opposition can halt increases in costs unless they tackle the fundamental issues which cause them.

“Although protest is natural, let’s not assume that the small shopkeeper can do much about it. I would admit that middlemen in many cases make unnecessarily high profits and also some large combines. Exerting Pressure “I agree, too, that there are numerous examples of short measure and defective goods. Here the housewives’ organisations can exert a very real pressure to bring about justice. “I suggest they should make more use of the excellent work done by the Consumer Council, and also that more recourse should be made to the Trade Practices and Prices Commission.”