ALLEGED PROFITEERING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 22

ALLEGED PROFITEERING.

THE PRICE OF SALT. WELLINGTON, September 7. A question about alleged profiteering was naked in'the House to-day by Mr Hornsby, who quoted a published statement by a shopkeeper in Masterton to the effect that big profits were being made out of food commodities bv merchants and not by reThe price of salt was shortly to be raised bv 110 per cent. The tea duty was 3d per lb. and the price was raised by 4d per lb. Tea sold at Is lOd, he said, would now be 2s 2d. and tea previously sold at 2s would cost 2s 4d. Mr Hornsby asked whether the Prime Minister would take immediate steps to deal with the matter of profiteering. , The Prime Minister said he would be pleased to refer the matter of the increase in the nrice of salt to the Board of Trade. Ho had" asked the Board of Trade to inquire into the price of tea. The board was advised that in consequence of the increased duty of 3d per lb the price would be increased bv 4d, and the board considered this fair Probablv in future the price would be "increased 'by 3d. and the standard of quality would be slightly reduced The board considered that in the wholesale and retail trade in tea there was keen enough competition to keep prices at a reasonable level. Ho would have inquiries made into the other points raised.