PRICE OF PETROL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11048, 3 November 1921, Page 6

PRICE OF PETROL

MR WILFORiyS STATEMENTS. MR J. VIGOR BROWN'S QUESTION. "NO UNDUE PROFIT," SAYS MINISTER. The Leader of the Opposition, said Mr J. V Igor Brown (Napier) in the House of Representatives yesterday, had recently stated that he could, import beuxino iuto thia country, at 20s to 22s per oase. If the hon. gentleman oould do this why asked Mt Brown, had not the Board of Trade taken notion against the people ivho were selling benzine at 80s to 33s Sir case? - * The Hon. E. P. Lee (Minister tog Industries and Commerce) replied that the investigations made by the Board of Trade showed that petrol in any bulk could not foe imported at the rate mentioned, and that the merchants here were not making any undue profit. .MrT. M. Wilford (Huht); I have just imported another twenty cases more cheaply still. Mr Vigor Brown: Why don’t you get the Government to do it? Mr Wilford was understood to say that he had done his bast in regard to the matter. “THE BIG THREE." Later, a,oi cue opposition oaiceu the jnnm&ier for inviUsmios » Commerce wUeuner those z-esyousune for the supply oo oetroi to tnis country hau any inquiries outsme "the tug three” who controlled petrol prices in ■tnis country; and, if not, would the Board of Trade make inquiries other than from the Standard On Co. Petroleum Products, Ltd., or Shell, and ascertain if the board cannot obtain petrel for the farmers of this country much more cheaply. He added that he kept importing petrol from time to time, and had recently imported twenty cases at £3St 12s 6d. instead of the .£23 he paid for the previous twenty. This included wharfage, primage duty. Customs, freight, and insurance; and the petrol was bought retail, Mr Lee Baid that he could not imagine for ono moment that the merchants in this country who purchased petrel and who had heard the statements repeatedly made by the hon, gentleman as to how he purchased it, were not wide awake enough to their own interests to buy this oil in the same market.

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE. Mr Wilford; They could buy more cheaply than I do. They buy wholesale, 1 buy retail Members interjected that petrol could now foe bought at 26s to 28s per case In the Dominion. ' “ - - Mr Lee repeated that the local merchants were not making an undue profit, (Oh I” and laughter.) The investigatioils made by the Board of Trade showed that the petrol was not sold hy these merchants at an undue profit, Mr Wilford: I know it is. Mr Lee: Then the bams of your complaint is not that they do “®t purchase cheaper in America? Mr Wilford: I say they are too clave* to let you prove it. _ Mt- Lee: Thou if they are too olover to let me prove it, I cannot bring anything against them. . Mr Wilford s Yes; you can go to Canada and get it. Mr Lee-. If it is such a good thing, it is a wonder that the hon. gentleman does not put Mb friends on. to it. . , _ Mr E. Kellett (Dunedin North); He has put you on to it. (Hear, hear, aula lighter.)