PRICE TRIBUNAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 76, 27 September 1944, Page 7

PRICE TRIBUNAL

CHARGES DENIED

WORK OF INSPECTORS

Provision for aa expenditure of £41,905 for .the Price Tribunal organisatipn" gave members an opportunity of di§cuss|ng its , .w.crk during consideration of the Estiniates in the House of Repregentft^ve? Ja^st: niglj. '

Mr. .-4.. (JNlational, Marsden)' said' thai' a" lot of money was being spent, with doubtful results when it was found tiiat a suit of clothes for a man was costing up to £23 and that £20 was quite common. It was true that the tribunal took action in small cases where the fines were out of all proportion to the offence. He understood that 141 persons were employed in the organisation.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) replied that some of the charges made against Price Tribunal officers in connection with the detection of offences were definitely denied by them, and they were resentful over the matter. It was intended to give preference to returned soldiers in making appointments to the organisation. "It is gravely suspected," added the Minister, "that unauthorised people do represent themselves as officers of the tribunal when they are nothing of the kind. It would be well if any storekeeper is suspicious, that he should ask the inspector to show the Price Tribunal badge to prove that he is properly authorised." DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (National, Pahiatua) said he had been informed on the best of authority that inspectors were instructed to pass over certain firms and business houses in certain towns they visited. It was for the Minister to deny the allegation if it I were not true. Government members: Make a charge. Mr. Holyoake said he understood that some of the officers were not happy about it. "I do not know how anybody could make such a statement," said the Minis- j ter. It was a shocking statement to make. The inspectors had their duties to carry out, and were responsible to see that prices were at a reasonable level. "I deny the statement," he I added, "and I hope the member will i accept it and not repeat such a stupid--ity in this House." i

.Mr. Holyoake (laughingly): I feel sincerely repentant and I feel I should not again speak in this House. Mr. W. Sheat (National, Patea) said he had heard reports to the effect that it was the practice of the Price Tribunal to authorise price increases in respect of certain commodities which were not stabilised in order, to offset the holding of other commodities under stabilisation. "If that practice is resorted to, then obviously the whole business of price fixation is only a camouflage," he said. "I think the public is entitled to know what the position is. If the practice is what I have been told it is, it is a very undesirable one."

-_. ,1S not being done," replied the Minister. "There were some cases of it, but it has been abandoned now for a considerable time past."