CHAIN STORES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 12

CHAIN STORES

FURTHER EVIDENCE DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Thursday The chain stores inquiry was resumed to-day, Mr. J. Hodgens presiding over the Parliamentary committee of inquiry. The chairman said the committee had decided to confine its investigation in the main to the activities of chain and department stores as covered by the petition. Evidence was given by Mr. D. J. Mouatt, manager of Food Stuffs, Limited, who claimed that unfair discrimination was mado by manufacturing and distributing concerns on ninny staple commodities. By refusing admission to their wholesale lists, these firms placed traders against whom discrimination was made at a serious disadvantage. He instanced tho position existing with regard to the Colonial Sugar Company, Limited, Auckland, which, he claimed, afforded a glaring instance of unwarranted discrimination being made. His company could not purchase sugar from the Colonial Sugar Company which supplied firms directly or indirectly interested in chain stores.

Mr. J. F. Turnbull, president of the Wellington Master Grocers' Association, submitted the following proposals:— (I) That where department or bargain stores engage in the sale of any articles or lines coining within the scope of any trade or business which is governed by an award, they should ho compelled to apply throughout, the whole of their stores the rate of wages and conditions of award most beneficial to the employees; (2) that the manufacturer or producer of any articles or goods should he empowered to fix a reasonable retail price at which his goods must be sold. Tho hearing was adjourned until next XhurEdayji .