BOARD OF TRADE

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 25

BOARD OF TRADE

SITTING IN DUNEDIN. NO LOCAL COMPLAINTS OF PROFITEERING. Mr W. G. M '"Donald (chairman) and Mr P Hailv, members of the .board ol 'xrade, held a sitting in the Town Hall on the 25th. .ivju' o. \, . secretary ox tno uvjjariment of Industries and Commerce, is associated with the board. The board met 14- local merchants in connection with the distribution of sugar. The board has arranged a scheme to eliminate duplication of orders to grocers by merchants. The scheme is already in operation in the North Island, and is giving general satisfaction. The board also proposes to institute a similar control with respect to the Inveroargill district. With reference to complaints of the unfair distribution of sugar in Southland, the figures show that during the months of December, 1918, and January, 1919, Southland had 517 tons of sugar. For the corresponding months of 19i9-20 700 tons have been sent to Southland. As there was no complaint in 1918-19 the board i 3 at a loss to know why there should bo one this year, and considers that the complaints go to prove that the distribution is faulty. . The nourmillers of Dnjnedin waited upon the board and discussed flour prices and future supplies. The board's recommendation on flour and bread is now before Cabinet, and the result should be known very shortly. One important object of the board's visit is to arrango for the setting up of a local tribunal to cheek profiteering under section 32 of the Board of Trade Act. A qualified investigating accountant, who will act as local secretary, will be appointed by the Public Service Commissioners. Three other local members will be appointed to the tribunal ,and when" arrangements are complete a place of meeting will be advertised, and the tribunal will investigate all local charges of- profiteering on the spot and report the result of such investigations to the Board of Trade. The board's consent will be necessary before any court proceedings can be instituted. No local complaints of profiteering were lodged before the board yesterday. FLOUR POSITION EASED. CHRISTGHURCH, February 17. The members of the Board of Trade arrived here to-day to hold sittings extending over this week and probably into next week. The board has arranged to meet representatives of the millers, and to discuss with them the regulations to prevent the sale of flour for speculative purposes. Mr M'Donald. chairman of the board, stated to-day that his inquiries showed that the flour position has been eased by the mere fact of the publication of restricting regulations which had stopped speculative transactions. He agrees with the Christchurch grocers that the shortage in this city was largely bogus, and was created by the consumers hoarding. A contributing factor, he believes, was the disarrangement of shipping from Oamaru and Timaru. The result was that orders were sent to Christchurch instead of to those towns. The Union Company, it is understood, has arranged to send small vessels to Oamaru and Timaru, and they probably will deal with all the accumulations of flour there^ The Canterbury Master Bakers' Association "will discuss the price of bread with the board, and the Returned Soldiers' Association will discuss the shortage of cement.