TO STOP PROFITEERING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 254, 25 September 1942, Page 5

TO STOP PROFITEERING

(9.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 25. Penalties for persons convicted in the Lower Court of black-marketing profiteering are to be a minimum of three months imprisonment without the option of a fine for individuals and a fine of £IOOO for companies, under a Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. If the offence is prosecuted upon indictment the minimum penalty will be imprisonment for 12 months without the option for an individual and a fine of £IO,OOO for a company. Every person who is a director or employee actively concerned in the conduct of a business is deemed guilty of an offence unless he proves it was committed without his knowledge and all due care was taken to prevent it. Thus a firm can be fined £IO,OOO and guilty directors and employees sentenced to 12 months’ gaol as well. The Government is also seeking power to brand publicly profiteers by placarding their premises and forcing newspapers and radios to broadcast the offenders’ public disservice and h.v making profiteers place particulars of their offence on letterheads of invoices and accounts.