CURB ON UPWARD PRICES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 10

CURB ON UPWARD PRICES

Government Policy GUARDING INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS No Interference With Fair Traders The Prime .Minister, Kt. Hon. M. J. Savage, made an additional statement yesterday regarding "any unwarranted increase in the selling price of commodities following improvement in the standard of living conditions, which is one of the main objectives of the Government.” “I have asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to instruct through the secretary of the department the district officer in each centre to keep in close touch with any upward movement in prices of commodities and investigate fully the reasons for any such contingency,” Mr. Savage said. ‘‘lt Is the intention of the Government to ensure that consumers’, interests will be safeguarded from unjustifiable or.artificial increases in th? prices of goods following on the Government’s policy. -In the event of the increase in price of any commodity arising from causes beyond the control of manufacturers. importers and traders generally, the Minister of Industries and Commerce has directed his officers to see that advantage is not taken of that position to increase the prices beyond reasonable margins. It is not the intention of the Government to inteifere with the trader who is performing a service to the community, and is content in taking only a reasonable reward for such services. ‘‘The Government is definitely opposed to any action on the part of traders who set out to exploit the improving standard of living conditions of the community to increase the cost of living by any artificial increase in the price of commodities.”