EVILS OF PROFITEERING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 9

EVILS OF PROFITEERING.

STERN BRITISH MEASURE. SPECIAL COURTS PLANNED. A. and K.Z. LONDON, Aug. 7. The Government is introducing a Bill to establish special tribunals to deal with profiteering. , The President of the Board of Trade, 6 Sir Auckland Geddes, gave evidence before the Profiteering Committee that the new tribunals would be similar to the military service tribunals, empowered to inflict fines up to £20 or refer the case to a court of summary jurisdiction, which is empowered to inflict penalties up to £200 or six months' imprisonment. Appeal tribunals will be established for the protection of traders. The Government is considering whether it is possible to make the profiteers disgorge unfair profits already accumulated. The introduction of the Bill was a bombshell to the Profiteering Committee, which is considering discontinuance of its investigations, on the ground that the Government has decided the matter.

ENEMIES OF SOCIETY. EQUAL WITH BOLSHEVIKS. A. and N.Z. DUEBAN, Aug. 7. Mr. W. M. Hughes was entertained at luncheon here to-day. Referring to the Labour unrest, he said he sympathised with the cry for more money and shorter hours. The only way to obtain amelioration was by producing more wealth. There were two classes who were enemies to —Bolsheviks and profiteers, and he said damn them both. That was the message he gave. If we were to speak in mealy-mouth platitudes we would do no good to the world which was racking its soul. The world was deadly sick from the effects of its deadly debauch. He would fight both Bolsheviks and profiteers relentlessly to the very end.