Protection For Consumers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31727, 10 July 1968, Page 26

Protection For Consumers

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 9. Legislative actionshould be taken to protect consumers from misleading packaging, labelling and advertising, the Parliamentary Commerce Committee recommended to the House of Representatives today.

The committee which met during the recess received written submissions from 25 organisations and three Government departments on the Consumers Information Bill, a private member’s bill introduced last session by Mr G. F. Gair (Nat, North Shore).

Twenty-three of the organisations made verbal submissions to the committee. The committee chairman, Mr H. J. Walker (Nat, St Albans) reported today that the committee bad decided that the bill should not be proceeded with. But he told Parliament that instead it made certain recommendations: That action be taken to protect the consumer by legi-

slation designed specifically for this purpose and covering the fields of packaging, labelling, advertising, and other forms of information to the consumer. That action be taken to review, consolidate and, where necessary, amend existing legislation relating to consumer protection. That such necessary legislation as proposed was necessary in the light of modem merchandising developments characterised by the emergence of

such elements as supermarkets, the pre-packag-ing of goods, and the increased emphasis on impulse buying and sales promotion techniques. That to this end the committee recommended that the Department of Industries and Commerce consult with substantially affected parties to ensure the introduction of practical and realistic legislation designed to protect the consumer without working to the detriment of a competitive marketing system.

The Deputy Opposition Leader (Mr Watt) said the Commerce Committee was unanimous that the Government should give some protection to the consumer while at the same time recognising some of the problems that manufacturers had to deal with.

"Now it is up to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) to bring down legislation as soon as he can.”