NO PROFITEERING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 21 January 1939, Page 6

NO PROFITEERING

ON ACCOUNT OF IMPORT REGULATIONS

MINISTER OF INDUSTRIES ISSUES WARNING PUBLIC NOT TO BE EXPLOITED TUoited Press Association! CHRISTCHURCH This Day. A warning that profiteering on account of the import regulations would not be tolerated, was given by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon D. G. Sullivan, to-day “IVly attention has been drawn during the past few days to statements which have appeared in the papers regardingincreases in prices,” said Mr Sullivan. “I refer particularly to a news item originating from Auckland concerning grocery lines allegedly affected by the import regulations, and in respect of which advances in prices have been made by wholesale suppliers and by retail shops.

“Some of the lines affected were matches, Australian canned fruit salad, canned apricots, canned vegetables, imported biscuits, canned asparagus, English meat pastes and imported sauce, ft was stated that increases in these lines have been brought about through some wholesalers advancing the prices for their remaining stocks in expectation of a coming shortage. “T also refer particularly to a statement which appeared in the ‘Dominion’ on 20th January to the effect that some Wellington grocery houses had advanced prices by 5 per cent, on practically all tinned foodstuffs, sardines, salmon, and herrings being among the lines so affected The reason given was a shortage of supplies because of import restrictions. There is in my opinion no justification whatever for such an increase in prices, and where such increases have taken place, allegedly on the grounds of shortage resulting from import control, such increases amount to exploitation of the public T wish to make it clear that the Government will not hesitate to take immediate action either under the Board of Trade Act or Prevention of Profiteering Act.”

Mr Sullivan said that officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce were at present investigating the increases said to have already taken place, and wherever wholesalers and retailers had advanced their prices for thr reason given they could be well advised to reduce *heir prices again. Through the Department a very close watch would be kept on prices, and the public could be well assured that the Government would not permit either wholesalers, retailers or anyone else to take advantage of the Government’s import control policy to exploit them in any shape or form.

Heavy penalties were prescribed by the Board of Trade Act and Prevention of Profiteering Act. and the Government would not hesitate to take action in any case involving breaches of these Acts.