COST OF "BIG BENS."

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1560, 16 June 1920, Page 5

COST OF "BIG BENS."

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last night. The hearing of the alleged profiteering eases was continued to-day. John Wilmot Duncan, manager for Brown and Duncan, continuing his evidence, said that in consequence of the increased manufacturing costs, freights and the adverse rate of exchange, the landed cost of the clocks in March was 15/4. The wholesale price was fixed at 18/3 in case lots, and IS/9 in broken lots, giving the wholesaler a turnover profit of 133 and 1G per cent, respectively. That meant to flic retailer a profit on the turnover of 29 per cent, when he bought in case lots, and 27 per cent, when he bought in broken lots. All the sales were made upon the stipulation that the wholesalers should sell to retailers at a certain price, and that the wholesalers should bind retailers to sell at a certain price. Uvidence was given on behalf of the firms concerned, which was chiefly to Hie effect that replacement value must be taken into consideration when fixing the price of an article. The hearing was not finished.