REGULATING PRICES

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

REGULATING PRICES

COMPLAINTS OF INCREASES , CHECK TO PROFITEERING [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday Since the Prevention of Profiteering Act was passed, officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce have been actively engaged in investigating complaints concerning 45 separate industries and trades. A great deal of information lias been secured and is in process of analysis and tabulation. This information was given by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who said that complaints had been received from many parts of the Dominion that prices had been advanced. Ho said tho basic price was defined as the current price on Juno 1, 193G, at which goods of the same nature and quality wore saleable in tho same locality, if sold in tho same quantity and on tho same terms as to delivery, payment or otherwise, or the actual price, at which on June 1 goods wero sold by tho person complained of. When tho actual increase over tho basic price had been determined, the question would be decided by a magistrate whether tho increase was reasonable in the terms of the Act. It would be for the Minister himself to decide whether there were sufficient grounds to justify the matter being placed before a magistrate.