PETROL-PRICE FIXATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 9, 21 December 1933, Page 6

PETROL-PRICE FIXATION

Labour Party Commendation BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. “This is one of the simplest and most desirable bills we have had this session,” said the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) when the committee stage of the Motor-Spirits (Regulation of Prices) Bill was commenced. “The only question is whether motor-spirits are being sold at an economic price or not, and a committee of this House has reported that they are not being sold at an economic price and that some control is necessary.” Mr A. E. Jull (Govt. —Waipawa) said there was a possibility that the purpose of the bill would be defeated by some companies giving concessions on sales of other articles —for instance, tyres. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said the bill gave the Government power to issue regulations to control prices if this was necessary in the public interest. It already had such power under the Board of Trade Act, but -as petrol played such an important part in the economic life of the Dominion it had been considered fair" to submit the question to Parliament in the form of a bill. Provision had been made to meet evasions of the nature suggested by Mr Jull. MrForbes pointed out that if such an attempt were made by wholesalers it would easily be detected, while in the case of retailers the profit per gallon was so small that it was unlikely to bo practicable. Ah D G. Sullivan (Lab. —Avon) also expressed approval of the bill, which ho said was necessary to protect consumers. He predicted that unless tho bill was passed this session it would be found by next session that the independent company would not be in existence and that the price of petrol would have been raised.

The bill was put through the remaining stages and passed to-night.