C.A.R.P. Disbands, New Body Formed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31365, 10 May 1967, Page 16

C.A.R.P. Disbands, New Body Formed

The Canterbury committee of the Campaign Against Rising Prices has disbanded by a majority vote, and a new organisation, the New Zealand Purchasers’ Progressive Association has been set up to give a service to consumers.

Mrs R. Phillips, the chairman of C.A.R.P, said yesterday that the organisation had been disbanded because the North Island CA..R.P. bodies, which she said were not united, were not doing the work for which they were originally organised—inducing better-priced and quality consumer goods and the use of buyer resistance to unwarranted price increases. “Their actions are contrary to their aims,” said Mrs Phillips of the North Island organisations. “Their demand for price control is obscured and vague. They are prone to become involved in higher

economic issues which should be relayed to their political representatives.” The new organisation had launched its activities by policing the market and stopping retailers from charging extra ’ for cigarettes and tobacco.

Mrs Phillips said a letter was being sent to the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon}. urging that a better method of announcing price increases be instituted, with the Price Tribunal acting. The Minister has been asked to combine the Price Control Division of the Industries and Commerce and the Consumer Institute into a self-contained, fully-staffed, equipped and housed unit for the benefit of the consumers. He has also been asked to ensure that by law manufacturers and producers of consumer goods should publish the net weight of the products on the containers.

Another request is that certified quality standard labels and labels showing the types of materials used in garments and footwear be displayed. The new organisation has also told the Minister that it is not in any way connected with political issues and will function for the benefit of consumers regardless of which political party is elected to power.