PRICE FIXING

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1939, Page 4

PRICE FIXING

STABILISATION REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, September 5. The price stabilisation regulations include the following:— No person engaged in the business of selling any goods shall sell goods of the same nature and quality in the same quantity and on the same terms as to payment, delivery, or otherwise, at a price ’which is higher than the lowest price at which he sold or was willing to sell such goods on the said lixed day.

No person engaged in the business or profession of performing any services shall perform similar services at a rate or for a fee which is higher than the rale or fee at or for which he performed or was willing to perform such services on the said lixed day.

No person who commences in any locality to be engaged in the business of selling any goods after the said lixed day shall sell such goods in that locality at a price exceeding the standard price thereof on the said lixed day.

No person who commences in any locality to be engaged in the business or profession of performing any services shall perform similar services in I hat locality at a rate or for a fee exceeding Ihe standard rate thereof on the said lixed day.

No person shall purchase any goods for purposes of hoarding whetner in contemplation of ultimate resale or disposal or ultimate personal consumption or otherwise howsoever, and no person shall sell any goods to any other person whether for resale or otherwise if he is of opinion or if circumstances exist under which he would reasonably be of opinion that such other person requires such goods tor purposes of hoarding and not for normal use in the course of business or for normal consumption.

Except as may otherwise be provided under the. authority of regulations made under the principal Act, no person being in possession of goods for mercantile purposes shall destroy or hoard such goods, or shall refuse • *0 SC,J such goods or to make them j available for sale in any, case where he is offered a price; not lower than the lowest price at which he sold or was willing to sell goods of the same nature and quality in the same quantity and on the'same terms as to payment, delivery, or otherwise on Ihe said lixed day, or in the case ofl a person refen - ed to irt Regulation 7 hereof where he is offered a price not loxver than the standard price: . ! Provided, however, that in any case where the Minister may, in accord-1 ance with the provisions of the next succeeding regulation,, authorise the sale of any goods.at, a' price other than the price aforesaid,.;the price so 1 authorised shall be the price at which sale shall not be refused as provided in this regulation. : j

The Minister may, by notice made and published by him’ in such manner as he thinks fit, authorise the sale of any goods , or performance of any services in any specified locality at a price, rate or'fee exceeding uie price, rate, or fee raforesaid by such 'amo.upt as ,Mihi.ster thinks.,fit, to specify, or at such pricb, -rate/ of fee;

(exceeding the price, rate, or fee aforesaid) as the Minister thinks fit to specify, and no sale of such goods or performance of services in that locality in accordance with the ail-' thority so granted by the Minister shall be deemed to be a breach of Regulations 5 to 8 hereof. Any such authority may be at any time withdrawn by the Minister by notice made and published by him in such manner as he thinks lit.

For the purpose of the effective administration of these regulations, any person appointed- 0)1 that behalf by the Minister shall have the powers of holding judicial inquiries and ancillary powers conferred on the Minister of Industries and Commerce pursuant to section 13 of the Board of Trade Act, 1919, as amended by the Board of Trade Amendment Act, 1923; and for that purpose the provisions of sections 14 to 25 of. the Board of Trade Act, 1919, and all other relevant provisions of that Act shall apply mutatis mutandis. Every person shall be guilty of an offence against the regulations who does, or attempts, or conspires to do any act declared by these regulations to be unlawful.

Every person who incites, aids, abets, counsels, or procures any other person, or conspires with any. other person, to commit- an offence against these regulations shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations.