PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representative met at 2.20 p.m.

Several more members presented petitions from grocers praying that the margin between the wholesale and retail prices of butter be increased. PRICE INVESTIGATIONS. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. E. P. Lee) was asked by the Hon. J. A. Hana-n if he had no j power would he obtain it to enable the price investigation tribunals to hear evidence in open court, so that the public might obtain some knowledge of the charges and the evidence. This.,would enable the public to trace tho coureo of the imposition of charges and the methods cf trading. At present the Minister and officials might obtain this knowledge, but the public: was quite.in the dark. Open investigation, such as obtained in Victoria, would probably clear up some misconceptions and enable the public to judge the fairness of competitive methods and inci'eases. The Minister replied that a deputation of traders had complained bitterly of the investigations and "fiaa' asked that the legislation be repealed. Now the hon. member had put the other side oi the case. He was investigating the methods pursued in Victoria, and would make an announcement laterT' Advice has been received that the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Leader of, the Liberal Party, was operated upon successfully in Auckland yesterday, and that his general health is improved. (Proceeding.) ,