CONTROL OF PRICES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 259, 29 July 1941, Page 8

CONTROL OF PRICES

Sweeping Powers In Britain

(British Official Wireless.) (Received July 23, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 27.

The chairman of the North Midland region price regulation committee, recently" describing the powers embodied in the new Price Control Act as sweeping, said they included five im portant features. These were first to issue an order fixing the maximum prices of certain essential goods services; secondly, to cheek speculative dealing by middlemen by prohibiting the sate of goods from one trader to another except under licence; thirdly, to control the prices of secondhand goods by licensing dealers and restricting dealings to registered persons; fourthly, to prohibit the payment of commissions on transfers of raw materials and bookkeeping transfers of stocks between firms and persons not normally trading in the goods; and fifthly, to appoint inspectors for each region to investigate complaints." watch prices generally and be armed with powers to inspect the books of any trader.

There was no doubt, the chairman said, that with the continued cooperation of traders and the public a committee armed with these powers could do much to maintain prices at a proper level.