FIXING PRICES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10634, 6 July 1920, Page 5

FIXING PRICES

THE CHRISTCHURCH TRIBUNAL. AIR ELLIS EXPLAINS HIS RESIGNATION. PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURH, July 5. Air F. Ellis to-dav stated that his reason for resigning ,as a member of the Canterbury Price Investigation Tribunal was that he was of opinion he could serve no good purpose by remaining a member. He explained that tho decision of the magistrate in the recent prosecutions had not influenced him in the slightest; in fact, his resignation had been forwarded ten Wellington on the Friday previous to the magistrate giving his decision. . Had there been no delay in hearing these cases he would have resigned much earlier. He was convinced tho tribunal would find it difficult’, if not impossible to get at the real profiteers. Only one attempt at price fixation was dealt with by the local tribunal," Air Ellis added; namely, . the overhead charges made by tho retail coal dealers. “And this attempt.” said Air Ellis, “more than convinced me of the fallacy of endeavouring to do so. The whole principle is wrong, and, in my opinion, the tribunal is merely being used as a means to hoodwink the general public and" prevent them showing their discontent with the present situation.”