N.Z. WARNING

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1939, Page 4

N.Z. WARNING

i Against Profiteering WELLINGTON. September 6. A severe warning against any I breaches of the Price Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, and any suggestion of hoarding, was issued by the Minister for Supply (the Hon. ; D. G. Sullivan) in an interview tonight,; The Minister drew attention to the provisions of the regulations, and stated that some traders did not. seem to be aware of the conditions these imposed. “From the fact that the Price Investigation Tribunal continues to receive notifications of price increases, it appears that all traders are not aware .of the provisions of the Price Stabilisation Emergency Regulations gazetted on September 1,” Mr. Sull.van said. “Those regulations provide that no advances in the price or I rate of any goods or services may Ibe made after September 1, and it | follows- that any traders who have ;advanced prices since that date will ■ be required immediately to revert, to the former prices.” The regulations applied, in addition to the prices ol? goods, to the rates or fees for the performance of any services, in connection with any business or profession, the Minister I added. They also provided that no person should purchase any goods for hoarding, whether for resale or personal consumption, or for any (Other reason, and that no person i should sell any goods if he thought ! they might be used for any of those [purposes. It was also stipulated that, 1 ! unless given authority, no trader should refuse to make goods available for sale if offered a price not below that ruling on September I.'

Power was reserved to the Minister, however, to authorise the sale of any goods or the performance of any services in any particular locality at a higher rate or pric/i. “It is most important,” said the Minister, “that the general public, in addition to traders, both wholesale and retail, should make themselves acquainted with the provisions of the emergency regulations which have been enacted in consequence of the present state of emergency, and for the good of the community as a whole. The Price Investigation- Tribunal, consisting of Mr. Justice Hunter and Mr. H. L. Wise, has been charged with the duty of administering. theni, and will no doubt regard ■seriously, in view of the existing circumstances, any cases of a breach of the regulations which might be brpught to their notice.”