Retailers Urged To Resist ‘Pressure’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31801, 4 October 1968, Page 12

Retailers Urged To Resist ‘Pressure’

The pressure on retail prices had never been greater, the president of the Retailers’ Federation (Mr R. L. Jones) said in Christchurch last evening. Mr Jones said the retail trade had to assert itself or be put down by pressure groups such as C.A.R.P., and other consumer organisations. He was addressing a special meeting of the CanterburyWestland Retailers’ Association. “We have to meet them.

and the Government too, on their own grounds,” he said. “It seems to me that the loudest shouter gets heard.” Mr Jones said that the retail trade had nothing to be ashamed of in its mark-ups or prices. “We need only to compare the results of some of our suppliers with those of our own top retail companies to see that we should be producing more profit from the large amount of money we have invested in our businesses,” said Mr Jones. “We have, seen introduced to Parliament this year a private member’s bill dealing with consumer information. This bill was not proceeded with after the select committee’s report “We now find that a much more stringent bill dealing with consumer protection may be introduced soon.

“It would appear that our Government is following step by step much of the legislation which has been introduced in Britain recently by the Labour Government,” said Mr Jones. The Public Service, though very large now, would probably have to be increased if such laws were introduced in New Zealand. Mr Jones said it was the federation’s opinion that the existing laws, if expanded as required, would cover all contingencies likely to upset any consumer.