Cigarette price hearing soon

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32498, 7 January 1971, Page 1

Cigarette price hearing soon

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 6. The Price Tribunal is to investigate the maximum and minimum prices for cigarettes as a result of an objection to an order setting both prices.

The chairman of the Tribunal (Mr S. T. Barnett) said today that the Tribunal had suspended its order of December 22 setting minimum and maximum prices because the order had been issued at a time when there was an objection to minimum prices with the Department of Industries and Commerce. “A Christchurch man lodged a genuine objection with the department, but the Tribunal was not aware of this when it gave its decision,” he said. “The ruling has therefore been suspended

to give the Tribunal an opportunity to hear his objection.” The Tribunal issued its order for minimum and maximum prices against a background of price-cutting in Christchurch. Supplies of cigarettes were alleged to have been withheld from a certain retailer who was selling cigarettes at a price below the maximum permitted by the Tribunal. The matter was raised in Parliament and was also the subject of an appeal to the Commissioner of Trade Practices.