Watties rise protest

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33786, 7 March 1975, Page 2

Watties rise protest

f Z Press Association) . WELLINGTON. March 6. About 30 women, many of them with, babies in arms, demonstrated outside the Price Tribunal’s offices in Wei-, lington this morning' shortly before the tribunal started hearing an application for price increases by the Watties company. The orderly demonstration, was organised by thei Wellington-based Workingwomen's Alliance. Leaflets were distributed!

i protesting that while Wat- ! ties made record profits, workers’ wages were buying , less. They said there was no , reason for further increases. ii Severa' of the demonstraj tors carried placards saying , i “No price rise for Watties J — make the rich pay.” ; Mr C. G. Pottinger, coun- ■ j sei for Watties, said he had ; no pleasure in approaching .'the tribunal only three j months after the last increase was granted. Howlever. increased costs of: packing materials, road and! rail freights, interest rates, and wages forced the com- i i pany to request a rise in' ■ I prices. The Department of Trade and Industries, represented] 11 by Mr J. Stevenson, sup-

ported Watties’ claim in its entirety. Mr Stevenson said the department had proved to its own satisfaction the company could not absorb the proven costs any further.

Mr Stevenson said that if the increase was not granted. the company’s stability would be affected. The increase would not benefit the shareholders directly and would just cover necessary costs.

He said pricing relief would simply maintain “the strict, but fair supervision of the tribunal over the profitability of the company.”

The Department of Ini dustries and Commerce | recommended that Watties ;be granted pricing relief of $ 1.42 m.

A consortium of consumer interests made up of the Federation of Labour, the Combined State Services Organisation, and the Campaign Against Rising Prices made submissions to the tribunal.