UNREASONABLE PRICE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 65, 11 December 1943, Page 6

UNREASONABLE PRICE

Milliner Fined For Sale Of Coat

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 10.

For selling a coat purchased for £3 19/6 for £9/9/-, John Kensington Amesbury, milliner, Karangahape Road, was fined £5O. the minimum penalty, by Air. Air. F. H. Levien, S.AI. He pleaded guilty to selling the coat at a price unreasonably high. Mr. deal, prosecuting, said the coat had 'been purchased by a young woman jvbo subsequently saw a similar coat in a shop priced at £6/6/-. She then went to defendant’s shop and obtained a receipt and the present prosecution resulted. A reasonable profit for the type of garment was 65 per cent., but defendant had made a profit of 116 per cent. “This prosecution has been brought under the regulation known as profiteering,” said Mr. Cleal. “The minimum penalty is £5O and the maximum £1000.” Air. Terry, for defendant, said the word profiteering had a sinister meaning which did not apply to the present case. Defendant himself hud had nothing to do with the sale. He had a staff of three and the garment had not boon ticketed, but find possibly been placed upon a shelf with isonie ticketed garments. Defendant definitely did not nesire that an excessive price be charged.