PRICE BREACHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 6

PRICE BREACHES

BUTCIIEES' £4O PENALTY OTHER TRADERS FINED "The public is very touchy about these questions of price to-day," said Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday, when dealing with a number of prosecutions brought by inspectors of the Price Tribunal. The magistrate said a great deal of unnecessary trouble was caused through a price being fixed for the retailers, but not for the wholesalers. One anomaly was that a man might apply for leave to quit old stocks at the old price, and be granted a "tolerance period" to do that, while others sold at a new price. It threw a load on the Court which should properly be-borne by the Price Tribunal. Commenting that it was a bad case, the magistrate fined Hawthorne and I Munro,* Limited, butchers, of Papa- | kura, £4O for charging excessive prices for lamb. The extra rates charged were from Id to 3d per lb. Admitting the offence in a letter, the firm said it was an oversight duo to the seasonal rush at the time. A fine of £2O was imposed on William Samaria Mcllraith, of Papakura (MfHubble), for selling candles at Is 6d instead of at Is SJ(I. In extenuation, it was urged that the extra id was added as a booking and delivery charge. For the same overcharge, Eileen Forbes, of Papakura, was also fined £2O. Defendant was fined a further £2 | 10s for failing to keep a copy of the price orders displayed in the shop. Dale Stores, of Onehunga, were fined £2O for charging Is instead of lid for a packed salt, and £2 10s for charging 8d instead of 7jd for a boot polish. Alan Bennett, grocer, of Otahuhu (Mr. Hubble), was fined £lO for overcharging for rice, the selling price being 6d instead of s|d per lb.

PROSECUTION AT HAMILTON GROCERY FIRM FINED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday A fine of £lO was imposed on Morris Stores and Motors, Limited, grocers, Claudelands, by Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., in Hamilton to-day for selling butter at a halfpenny in excess of the fixed price. A plea was made by Mr. Harkness for defendants that the halfpenny was a booking fee and was a reasonable and legitimate fee for credit and service. The magistrate disagreed and said that defendants had made an undue profit on the article over an extended period. By paying a fine they would bo refunding money they had unlawfully taken from the public. CONDITION OF FLOUR CONCERN EXPRESSED DELIVERIES TO BAKERS (P.A.) WANGANUI, Friday Grare concern at the very unsatisfactory condition of the flour beiny delivered from the emergency flour stocks was expressed in a motion carried at a meeting of the West Coast (North Island) Master Bakers' Association. It was stated that many assurances had been given by the Wheat and Flour Controller that such flour would be released at regular intervals, and before the quality deteriorated. It was decided that the matter be taken up immediately with the authorities. Some brands of flour were held in the emergency stores for from seven to 11 months, it was stated. Unless a more satisfactory system were adopted, the members of the association determined that they would be in future accept only flour supplied by direct shipment from the mills. It was urged that the final date of manufacture should be shown on each sack of flour. LONG STORAGE IN DEPOTS TICKETING OF SACKS "The lengthy storage of flour in emergency depots has caused the trade great concern, particularly in the country districts." said the president of the Auckland Master Bakers' Association, Mr. A. E. Brownlie, yesterday, commenting on the motion carried by the West Coast (North Island) association. Due allowance was made for shipping difficulties, he said, but the condition of the sacks had in many cases been unsatisfactory. "The baker has the right to refuse delivery of damaged sacks, but in country districts, when the flour is released from local storage depots, there is no other flour available until further shipments arrive," said Mr. Brownlie. "Tne trade is entitled to receive flour of fair average quality which can be used for bread manufacture without further treatment, but with sacks in bad condition, or with lengthy storage, the task of the baker, who in many cases is working very short-handed, is made much more difficult." Mr. Brownlie added that the ticketing of sacks to show the final date of manufacture had been advocated by the trade for some time. TRENTHAM SENSATION TEACHER'S WOUND SERIOUS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The condition of Miss Lily Grey, the teacher who was wounded at Trentham on Wednesday night, is now reported to bo serious. Miss Grey received a rifle wound when attempts were being made to capture a Marine who had gone berserk and was firing shots at anyone within range. GRADE ONE OFFICERS NEW ZEALAND CAMPS (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Friday An investigation into the number of grade 1 officers remaining in New Zealand camps, with a view to their employment in a more useful capacity, was urged in a resolution passed by the Whangarei branch of the Returned Services Association. It was decided to ask the Dominion executive of the association to approach the War Cabinet on the question. With the limited information at its disposal, Mr. G. A. Bethell considered the association was on dangerous ground in passing the resolution. It must be clearly understood that there was no reflection on any military authorities, who did not control the policy. Many young, efficient officers were highly disappointed at not being able to go overseas, said the Rev. G. Brown. ITALIAN SURPRISED DOCILE NEW ZEALANDERS (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday A pleasant surprise was experienced by an Italian who owns a large property in the Middle East when he round that the New Zealanders, who occupied the territory, were not as bad as ho had imagined, according to a letter received in Hamilton from Captain P. Gilchrist, of To Aroha. "At the moment wo are camped in a very pleasant spot some distance from Tripoli, Captain Gilchrist wrote. "Our camping ground is owned by an Italian count who arrived here 20 years ago and took up thousands of acres of desert. He has done wonders. Thousands of Australian gums were imported for shelter belts, and it is amazing what he is now producing from the land. He told us that he decided to remain on the property after the evacuation, and having heard terrible tales of what the New Zealanders would doj he left all his gates open on the home-) stead property, but took the precaution of locking his charming daughters in the house. He was astounded to seo how docile we really were. For those Italians who stayed behind life goes on more or less the same—as it must do, otherwise we would have to feed them."