REGULATION OF TRADE AND COMMERCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 11 August 1914, Page 5

REGULATION OF TRADE AND COMMERCE.

The Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act provides that the Governor-in-Council may, from time to time, at any time when His Majesty is at war with any foreign prince or State, fix | the maximum price in New Zealand of any class of goods, and may, from time to time, vary any maximum prices. Different maximum prices of the same classes of goods may be fixed for different localities. Maximum Prices. The maximum price of any goods may be fixed and determined under this Act either— (a) As a specified sum ; or (b) By reference to the standard price of such goods. When fixed and determined as a specified sum, the maximum price shall not be less than the standard price, but- in this respect every Order-in-Council made under this Act shall in all courts and in all proceedings be conclusive of its own validity. When fixed and determined by reference to the .standard price, the maximum price shall be declared to be either the standard price itself or the standard price with such addition by way of percentage or otherwise as the Governor-in-Council thinks fit. The "standard price" of any goods means the current price at which goods j of the same nature and quality were saleable in the same locality on the first day of August, nineteen hundred and fourteen, if sold in the same quantity and on the same terms as to payment, delivery, and otherwise. Commissions of Enquiry. The Governor may appoint any person or persons to be a commission to enquire into and report upon any or all of the following matters: (a) The state of the prices of goods in New Zealand or elsewhere, whether before or after the outbreak of war. (b) The quantity, situation, demand, supply, or possession of any goods in New Zealand. (c) The means of of the supply or transport of good 3. (d) The necessity or advisability of the exercise by the Governor or the Governor-in-Council of any of the powers conferred by this Act. Suspension of Awards. The Governor may from time to time, ' by Order-in-Council, if satisfied thatsuch a course is necessary in the public interest, _ suspend wholly or partially, and subject to such condition as he thinks fit— (a) All or any of the provisions of any industrial award or industrial agreement under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 190S, and its amendments; (b) All or any of the provisions of the Shops and OfficesS Act, 1908, and the Factories Act, 1908, and their amendments; I (c) All or any of the provisions of any j other Act so far as such provisions take I away or restrict the liberty of private ■ contract in matters of trade, commerce, business or employment.