INVESTIGATING PRICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17663, 27 December 1920, Page 6

INVESTIGATING PRICES.

WORK OF THE TRIBUNAL DETERRING THE PROFITEER. YEAR'S OPERATIONS REVIEWED. The operations of the Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal since its inception was reviewed by the chairman, Mr. Wesley Spragg, at the meeting held on Friday last. Ir. a statement supplied to the prcis, Mr. Spragg said: — "There is no trader large or small in the city and towns, and even in the remotest back blccks, who docs not keep in mind that theni is a Prices Investigation Tribunal in existence and who, even if he docs not need to be made more honest, is not made more careful in consequence. "Outride opinion which comes to my knowledge, confirms my judgment that the tribunal is serving a useful purpose in the community. Naturally there are people who object to its interference with their opportunity—bom of special circumstances of putting on a special profit; and on the other hand there are indignant people who, finding the cost of things higher than formerly, are displeased that daily prosecutions are not instituted. The fact is that the all-round higher cost of things—dear production, higher freights, increased taxation, more costly distribution and dearer money-not forgetting taxation—has given an exaggerated appearance to the profiteering which exists." Jlr. Spragg pointed out that the work of the tribunal had been a steady quantity right through the year. Each meeting had brought its bafch of new complaints. An indication of the volume of work was seen in the following summary for the year :— Cases investigated 497 Files finalised 464 Files under action 33 In addition, many investigations had been undertaken aiid reported, upon for the Head Office in Wellington. Everything great and small which had been submitted, had received attention and inquiry, with the exception, of course, of foolishly trivial matters which occasionally came the tribunal's way. Removal ol Suspicion. "Happily," continued Mr. Spragg, " much the larger proportion of complaints, while bised on appearances which warranted their submission to the tribunal, have turned out to be due to the general upset of trade throughout the world and were not breaches of the Board of Trade Act. In such cases it has generally happened that our findings, to which we have for some time past been adding our reasons therefor, have satisfied the complainant that he is the victim of the general condition of things and not of a rapacious local trader. If this were the only work done—the removal of unfounded' suspicions and tbo establishment of decent relations between buyer and seller—it would fully justify the existence of the tribunal. It is a common experience for us to receive final letters of satisfaction and thanks from persons whose original letters of complaint were irate and positive as to the wickedness of the supposed profiteer. " There is yet another influence which the mere existence of the tribunal has exercised altogether apart from its personnel, and that is the wholesome dread it inspires in the average trader. He fears to do anything which might involve him in a prosecution or his 'business in unenviable notoriety. We regularly meet with cases where what might be thought to be a legitimate extra profit is foregone because it would be on the border-line of profiteering. The trader naturally decides that it is better to avoid all risks." " Powerful Reminders." Mr. Spragg naid there had been fewer prosecutions in Auckland than elsewhere in New Zealand, but such as had taken place were powerful reminders of the danger of profiteering. The procedure of the tribunal was simplicity itself. A letter detailing the complaint started the business without cost or risk of cost to the complainant! This itself put an obstacle in the wrong doing. It was true that this facility was sometimes abused, but on the whole it was certain that its value gr&itly outweighed its objectionable features and finally little harm came to an honest defendant, even from spiteful or unjust complaints. Mr. Spragg added that he could give many instances in support of his statements. Cases came from every part of the tribunal's district, from the gumfields and settlements of tho farthest north down to Gisborno and the Country in the south. There was no trader, large or small, in city or towns who did not know the tribunal existed, and could exercise power over him if he contravened the law. " Of course the work i 3 onerous," said the chairman of the tribunal in conclusion, " but as I have' already said, in my opinion it is of value, to the Dominion, and while I personally should be glad to be relieved from it I can See many good reasons for the continued existence of this minor, and perhaps, somewhat irregular court of justice."