RETAIL TRADE

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 50, 27 August 1920, Page 8

RETAIL TRADE

WELLINGTON DRAPERS' ASSOCIATION

MENACE OF BOARD OF TRADE ACT. .

The annual report of the Wellington. Drapers, Mercers, and Clothiers' Association for the year ended 31st July last records a year full of activities, with a number of important matters calling for prompt attention. Chief among these, ■ states the report, has been the menace to, legitimate trading brought about by. the passing of the Board of Trade Act during last Parliament. Various traders have been prosecuted under the Act for obtaining unreasonable profits, and fines have been inflicted by Magistrates, but their decisions have been at such variance with one another that Dominion traders are utterly confused as to the correct interpretation of the Act, and have recently combined for the purpose of securing the best legal advice and of making the strongest possible representations to Government, urging first the repeal of the provisions of the Act relating to profiteering, or failing that, for amendment of the Act in the direction of clearly defining what shall be considered unreasonable profit, and how that shall, be ascertained by the Magistrate. A Dominion committee representing trades interested has been established in Wellington, and will energetically /press for revision of the Act. Reference is made in the report to the Dominion Conference of 'Associations, and the appointment of Mr. H. Rbuth as Dominion organiser. It is hoped that his work will result in the better combination of the trade and in the building up of a strong federation to stand for the defence and protection of the rijrhtr of the trade. ■ In regard to the proposals before Parliament for a reduction of the working hours, including closing at 5.30' p.m. and .12 noon "on Saturdays, and the eliminating of the late night, the report states f;hat all necessary steps are being .taken to- place- before Parliament the views of the Trade ,