RISING PRICES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 October 1936, Page 9

RISING PRICES

* GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. OUTLINE by minister. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON. Oct. 1. ' Since tho Prevention ,of Profiteering Act was passed early in August officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce have been actively investigating complaints in 45 separate industries and trades, and a great deal of information has been secured which is in the process of analysis and tabulation. This information was given in an interview by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) ■when asked regarding the action being taken under the Act. The Minister said the Act was designed to prevent profiteering by prohibiting the making of unreasonable increases in the prices charged for goods and services. Complaints nad been received from many parts of the Dominion that prices had been advanced. Investigations would ascertain the extent to which prices had been advanced over and above the basic price as defined in the Act, and if the extent of those advances appeared reasonable. The latter point involved the extent, if any, by which the expenses of a person or firm complained of had since June 1 been directly or indirectly increased by the operation of any amendment of the law relating to the rates of remuneration of workers, of working hours, also the extent by which the business was likely to 1 be increased through the increased demand for the kind of goods sold or services performed due to the increased purchasing power. The Minister added that when the information was complete it would bo placed before him to decide whether there were sufficient grounds to justify any complaints being placed before the Magistrate appointed under the Act.