Consumers’ Institute 'not only voice’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 18

Consumers’ Institute 'not only voice’

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 12.

The Consumers’ Institute does not think it could represent all consumer viewpoints if it were made a party to the Price Tribunal hearings as the public's representative.

The institute’s director, Mr R. J. Smithies, said today that he did not feel his organisation could be the sole representative of all consumers. He was commenting on a sug-

igestion made by the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer) that the Consumers’ Institute might be the most suitable organisation to be a party at Price Tribunal hearings on behalf of the public. “There is not just one consumer point of view,” Mr Smithies said.

“We don’t pretend to be knowledgeable on all consumer matters. Some consumer bodies would know more about certain matters than the institute." Mr Smithies said he had not been approached by Mr Freer’s office about the Minister’s suggestion, and it was too early to comment on any specific proposals about the institute’s becoming party to Price Tribunal hearings. However, the Consumers’ Institute would want to continue to make submissions to the tribunal on selected applications. he said.