PETROL PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 December 1933, Page 4

PETROL PRICES

LEGISLATION TOR FIXATION BILL READ A SECOND TIME (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, 19th December. There was little discussion on the second reading of the Motor-spirits (Regulation of Prices) Bill in the House of Representatives. Moving the second reading, the Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that the Bill had been introduced to give effect to the petition recently reported on by the Industries and Commerce Committee praying ior legislation for price fixation in the interests of the public. The Government recognised that‘the question was of importance to the transport industry, especially in view of the fact that prices had been fixed for the carriage of passengers and goods. However, nothing had been done regarding petrol, and it had been felt that the matter could not be left longer. The Government had to take some power to see that no exploitation was indulged in. 'Liu* Bill, which was in the interests of the motor interests of the country, proposed that the price of petrol should he fixed by regulation. It was necessary that there should be some elasticity, and it was felt that that kould be accomplished in the Bill. It was not the intention to impose unfair conditions on the industry. The Government had recognised that thousands of pounds had been invested in it. As far as the Government was concerned, the petrol companies would get fair treatment. It was felt that the Bill was a step in the direction of file control that had been exercised in other portions of the industry : control that would be exercised fairly and equitably. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) said he thought that the House would agree that the Bill was on right lines, but there was nothing in the Bill not contained in the Board of Trade Act, 1919. Unless something were done, the public would suffer, and there would be a monopoly, and the public would have to pay tor the. cheap petrol they happened to be getting at this time.’ The public would hay;, to pay the price after the market had been secured, and the Government was. justified in doing something to maintain reasonable conditions of trade. The Bill was read a second time.