Food Blamed For Price Criticisms

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31784, 14 September 1968, Page 14

Food Blamed For Price Criticisms

(New Zealand Press Association) HASTINGS, September 13.

Criticisms being made in New Zealand about price increases tended to generalise when in fact increases mainly concerned food, Mr R. Jones, president of the Retailers’ Federation, said in Hastings today.

In the federation's field of soft goods and home appliances there were many instances of prices falling in recent years.

“You shop around and you’ll find that average prices of men’s suits, shirts and children’s wear have remained fairly static,” Mr Jones said. In high fashion, however.

the extra labour content involved could result in marginal price increases. This should be expected because wages had risen, but the price increase was not at the same level as the wages increase.

"We feel that the major criteria restraining price increase in our fields of softgoods, furniture and furnishings, home appliances, and footwear, are a sense of competition,” he said. Contrary to some critics’ opinions, there were seven Acts giving consumers legislative protection, Mr Jones said.