PRICE OF FOODSTUFFS.

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1915, Page 5

PRICE OF FOODSTUFFS.

REPLY „TP COMMISSION. 1 , ./ ", ; (Press Association.)' h CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. Relying to the statement made by the secretary of tho Foodstuffs Commission that the commission has , never had before it evidence of exploitation, Mr. Andrew Fairbairn. merchant, informed a reporter that he had gdne beforo'the commiSßiort * and produced original documents to ■■) show that on the very day war was "', declared the prices of foodstuffs had been advanced from ten to ninety v , per cent, on goods carried at no in- * ~ creased cost whatever. He also gave ji evidence proving that If his * flnnt J raised prices to the same ektenjt as „'«' competitors his additional profits t\s from one month's trading would v-J; have amounted to at least five thousaVd pounds. His firm had nex^ l $ charged these excessive prices, yet 'its profits, selling under normal $ conditions since the commencement v £ of the war, were at least equal to"Va those of previous years. H e had \, _j made frequent application to commission for a copy of his evldence, but had been unable to obtain ifM «•■■-• '• vf . . ' t """ * "J