SOFT DRINKS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 82, 31 December 1940, Page 10

SOFT DRINKS

Maximum Price Fixed RETAILERS CONCERNED Dominion Special Service AUCKLAND, December 30. Action has been taken by the Price Investigation Tribunal lo fix the maximum price of bottled soft drinks, which are nt. present, sold at varying rates all over the city. In ir telegram sent to its Auckland representative on Christmas Eve the tribunal advised that, these drinks were not to be sold at more than 4|d. each, and this was passed on to Mr. J. C. Malfroy, secretary of the Retail Confectioners’ Association, and also to Mr. C. C. King, secretary of the Auckland Confectioners and Dairymen’s Association, Incorporated. Efforts were made to reach all members of the trade as soon as possible by both associations, but considerable uncertainty as to the exact nature of the tribunal’s wishes seems to have existed, particularly as at that time the Christmas rush gave shopkeepers little chance to consider their actions under the new conditions. As a. result inquiries revealed no case in which the instructions had been carried out by retailers who generally sell above the new fixed price, even the railway stall retaining its price of 6d. Hotels and milk bars also made no change. In the case of many smaller shops the drinks are normally sold at -Id. so that in their case any change wilt be an increase.

Many shopkeepers regard the measure with alarm. It is stated that the price was only reduced to 4d. in the years of the depression to attract disappearing trade and that conditions have changed considerably since then. Glasses, which are continually used and often broken and even taken away by customers, have doubled in price recently, one shopkeeper said, and tea towels, and cleaning cloths, which are needed in dozens over a week, have also materially increased in cost. The distinction between .selling drinks and other confectionery was also pointed out, drinks involving a relatively large amount of work, including washing and sterilizing after the customer has gone. With all this, as well as the provision of straws and the cost of refrigeration for drinks kept on ice, it is felt that the extra charge is justified. A manufacturer of soft drinks said that apart from the automatic increase of 5 per cent, in sales tax, no alteration had been made to the conditions whereby the drinks were supplied to shops.