COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 4

COST OF LIVING

GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED ACTION A BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. The Cost of Living Bill, which is under the charge of the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Minister of Finance, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor's Message. A brief resume of the Bill was published in The Post yesterday. Its purpose is to establish a Board of Trade and to make provision for the regulation of trade within the Dominion. The proposed Board of Trade is to consist of the Minister of Industries and Commerce and two other persons to be appointed by the Governor, who shall hold office for a term of three years, and may be reappointed. Provision is made for the payment of such annual salary to the appointed members as Parliament appropriates for the purpose. The appointed members may be suspended or lemoved by the Governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct. The office shall be deemed to have been vacated if any of the appointed members engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment, or any business outside the duties of his office ; becomes bankrupt, compounds with his creditors, or makes an assignment of his salary for their benefit; absent^? himself from duty for a period of fourteen consecutive days, except- on leave granted by the Governor, or becomes incapable of performing his duties ; or resigns his office. In the case of illness, suspension, or absence a deputy may be appointed. The Minister of Industries and Commerce shall be president of the board, but may, in the event of absence, appoint another Minister to act for him at a meeting of the board. Provision is made for the appointment by the Public Service Commissioner of a secretary to the board, or other persons as he thinks fit, for carrying on the board's business. THE DUTIES OF THE BOARD. The board is to be empowered :—: — To investigate and report upon any alleged infringement of any of the provisions "of the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910. To enquire into and report upon matters affecting the cost of living or upon any other question referred to it by the Governor relating to the supply, demand, or price of commodities. To consider, enquire ■ into, and report upon any question relating to the trade, commerce, or business of New Zealand which may be referred to it by the Governor. To institute enquiries in reference to markets for goods produced or manufactured in New Zealand ; to report the results of the enquiry to the Governor, and to make recommendations to the Governor in regard to trade with other countries. To make recommendations to the Governor for legislation in relation to matters referred to the board for consideration. To advise generally the Governor as to how 'the- trade, industries, and commerce of New Zealand can be best encouraged, developed, aJid protected. The board may delegate any of its powers or functions to one or more members of the board, or, with the approval of the Governor in Council, to any fit person or persons. The board is to have the powers of a Commission of Enquiry, and no person shall be excused from _.ajis\vering any question put to him, or from producing or making discovery of any document on any such enquiry or investigation, on the ground that the answer to the question or the production or discovery of the document would tend to criminate him in respect of any offence against the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, or any other Act. Any person may appear before the board and be heard in person or by counsel. The board is to report in writing to the Governor the result of its enquiries and investigation, and an annual report of the board?s transactions js to be laid before Parliament. COMMERCIAL TRUSTS. - The Bill amends the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, in the direction of extending the scope of the Act to include any article of food for human consumption and ? ingredients used in the manufacture of any such article. LOCAL BODIES' ENTERPRISE* The Bill provides for the extension of the powers of local bodies. The Governor may fiom time to time by Order in Council make regulations authorising and controlling the establishment by borough councils of milk stations for testing, treating, and distribut ing the milk supply of the borough, and the carrying on by borough councils of the "business of a dealer iv milk and milk products and ice; the establishment, equipment, and maintenance by borough councils of refrigerating chambers and chambers for the cool storage of articles, of food of a perishable nature intended* for human consumption; the establishment, equipment, and maintenance of bakeries and the carrying on by borough councils of the business of a baker, and the establishment, equipment, and maintenance of brickrnaking.-..works and the carrying on of the business of brickmakers. These regulations are to apply generally to all borough councils or to any specified- borough council; and any borough council may make the necessary bylaws. The Bill was read a first time.