PRICES & PROFITEERING

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 9, 10 January 1920, Page 5

PRICES & PROFITEERING

OPEN INVESTIGATION.

NECESSARY.

Interesting remarks on the question of profiteering were made in the course of an interview by the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M-.P. Asked if anything had been done by the Government to bring down the cost of living, Mr. Hanan replied that the &osb of living was a. world-wi<3& problem, and to some extent -was responsible for the present industrial unrest.

"While I recognise," he continued, "that it is difficult for New Zealand to deal effectively with profiteers out of the Dominion, I am of the opinion something can bs done, and should be done, with local profiteers. The man who would take advantage of present conditions to charge unconscionable prices to the consumer I would, on his conviction, send to gaol."

Under the legislation of last session, said Mr. Hanan, drastic powefcs were given the Board of Trade, which, was to be converted into a Royal Commission to deal with monopolies, unfair competition, and profiteering in a way that pi-o-rm'sed some protection to the purchasing public. "Now that the duty of taking action is vested in the board, and with powers conferred by Parliament," Mr. Hanan added, "the public are at a loss to know what is being done. No steps have been taken, so far as the public are ' aware, to invesigate in the towns the reasonableness of the prices charged for many commodities. Such an open investigation should be proceeded with at once, and a determined effort made by the Government to show to the public that action is being taken to punish those who are guilty of offences under the Act."