GROCERS’ REQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1937, Page 4

GROCERS’ REQUEST

TO CHECK CHAIN STORES. (Per Press Association.— Copyright). CHRISTCHURCH, January 19. The New Zealand Alaster Grocers’ Association decided, at their annual conference to-day, to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to fix the retail prices of sugar and flour throughout the Dominion. The remit was sponsored by Otago, which gave the difficulties with tho chain store? as the reason for it. The remit led to a general discussion on price-cutting, and the allegation was made that sugar and flour were sometimes sold under cost price so as to attract other business. Another remit, sponsored by Otago, was as follows: “That the manufacturers be asked, through, the federation, to place a minimum retail price on packages, and to supply none hue the legitimate wholesale merchants and retailers at less than the retail price.” The Otago ' Association’s reason for bringing forward this remit was the activities of the various co-operative buying concerns. A remit was passed, from the Auckland Association, to tbe effect that the Conference urge on the Government the need ior repealing Section 17 of the Shops and Offices Amendment \ct. 1927, to make it possible to bind to an award all of the retailers oF grocery lines, whether they have been cited as parties to an award or not. A remit from the Wellington Association. asking tho Government to remove the sales tax on all foodstuffs, was also passed.