COMPLAINT ON BISCUIT PRICES

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 22

COMPLAINT ON BISCUIT PRICES

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. February 12. A formal complaint will be made by the Labour Party to the Trade Practices Commission about the rise in the price of biscuits announced in January.

(still been no hearing,” he said. ' Mr Kirk said Mr Freer's complaint would be made as a representative of the party ' and as a front-bench member ! whose responsibilities include commercial practices.

;, The leader of the party (Mr Kirk) said today aftei ; a meeting of the Labout (Party caucus that the com- , 'plaint would be lodged by ; Mr W. W. Freer, the member for Mount Albert, to test the ; effectiveness of the legisla 1 | tion. The complaint was in I tended to compel the Govern ' [inent to take some action on the constant erosion of wages,! |he said. Since the elections [ there had been an incessant | round of price increases in consumer commodities. Mr Freer said later that the! complaint would probably be' (formally lodged, on Monday The basis of the complaint would be price-fixing proce ; dures and monopolistic con trol injurious, to the public: interest. “We are certain that there i have been breaches of the [Trade Practices Act and regulations," he said. Overseas interests were in-1 volved in the biscuit manu- j (factoring industry. Mr Kirk said the Govern-1 ment was showing no interest! in coping with rising prices.! ;“We intend to explore every ;avenue that is open to us,”[ he said. He said he hoped the hear-, iing of the new complaint; would be treated more! quickly than the complaint made about the increase in bank charges more than two years ago. I “On that matter there has ”