NEW LUXURY CAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 2

NEW LUXURY CAR

SYDNEY RACKETEER r WEALTHY PROFITEERS SYDNEY, Feb. 25. One of the biggest racketeers of ■King’s Cross took delivery of a new luxury car during the week. This is despite Acting Deputy Prices Commissioner Mr. A. K. .Weir’s statement during the week that blackmarketing was on the wane. Hundreds of wealthy profiteers, most of them with criminal records, are dealing in scarce commodities. Police believe that if the Prices Branch smashes the Mack market, these spivs and drones will return to ppen crime. Forged and; genuine petrol tickets change hands at 2s 6d a gallon. Petrol, without coupons, can be bought freely 'at 5s a gallon. Beer Down Bottled beer has dropped from its Christmas peak of 7s a bottle to 5s a bottle. Rice is 2s a lb and 10|d lines of cigarettes are Is 6dClothing coupons aTe £1 10s a page. Sheets and .pillow slips are easy to get without coupons. Blackmarket shopkeepers have stocks •of butter, tinned asparagus, ■,sheeps’ tongues, pineapple and other fruits. Many legitimate shopkeepers complain that some wholesale grocers will ; not let them have a case of scarce goods unless they buy a case of tinned beetroot or carrots. , Blackmarketeers are still among the biggest bettors on horses and dogs.