TRIBUNAL’S QUEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25668, 17 October 1944, Page 4

TRIBUNAL’S QUEST

DETAILS FROM RETAILERS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION Gisborne retailers who have received requests from the Price Tribunal to furnish certain information on a confidential basis to .proyide the foundation of a survey of various types of businesses have been advised by the Employers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce ,to withhold data in the meantime. It is felt that offering this confidential information to the Price Tribunal would establish a very dangerous precedent, which may eventually have serious repercussions on those providing the information, states the advice to retailers. The request of the Price Tribunal was Drompted, according to the circular, by the intention to examine the position of traders in the light of existing conditions, and retailers are asked to fill in information from their last completed financial year and also for the year ended-1939. The circular closes with the direction: “Your completed form should reach the tribunal within 10 days of the date of this notification.” ..... The.form requires information concerning the method of arriving at the percentage of overhead, the cost of goods sold, purchases from other stores, stock at tiie beginning of the period, less stock at the end of the period, and general expenses in detail, proprietors’ salaries, insurances and other items. Further information required includes paid-up ' capital and reserves in the cases of companies and capital draw? ings and reserves in the cases of, private employers or-' partnerships.-^ The form bears a note warning that the information supplied must'be reconcilable with financial accounts covering the period for which the figures apply, and also a form of declaration as to the truth of the information supplied. '