PRICE-CUTTING WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 8

PRICE-CUTTING WAR.

CONCERN OF GROCERS.

PROTEST AGAINST MOVE.

GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT.

REPEAL OF AN ACT URGED.

Tho concern felt by Auckland grocers regarding tho growing price-cutting movement, which in recent months has been extended to a multitude of food commodities, was reflected in a meeting of city and suburban grocers held in the Lewis Eady Hall last evening. The attendance was over 300, easily the largest gathering of retail grocers ever held in Auckland. Tho meeting was convened by the Auckland Master Grocers' Association and the president, Mr. W. Curtis,- presided. Competition in the sale of foodstuffs had become exceedingly keen, explained tho secretary, Mr. J. Ileaton Barker. A good deal of unrest prevailed in the trade owing to unrestrained price-cutting. As a result, ho said, equality of opportunity had been destroyed and it was tho <]uty of the meeting to decide what was re quired to restore that equality. A resolution was unanimously passed calling upon tho Government to repeal the Cost of Living Act, 1915, the point being made that it was purely a war measure and altogether unnecessary in view of the Board of Trade Act, 1919.

Representatives of the Northern Pharmaceutical Association were present, and its president, Mr. E. Smith, assured the meeting of its full approval of the grocerspoint of view. Ho also spoke of the efforts made some years ago to form a Proprietary Articles Trade Protection Association with the object of stabilising prices.

One speaker very strongly stressed the point that inasmuch as the employees were bound to receive a minimum wage, according to their industrial award, it was only fair that those responsible for paying those wages should have an equal opportunity to securo a reasonable return for the capital and labour employed in their businesses.

At the close of the meeting a number of manufacturers expressed sympathy with the meeting's views and assured the retail grocers of their icsire to co-operato with them in their endeavour to secure reasonable returns.