COST OF LIVING

Southland Times, Issue 18857, 24 June 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

PRICES INVESTIGATION TRIBUNAL. INVERCARGILL SITTING. Thp Invercargill sitting of the Prices Investigation Tribunal, composed of Messrs J. M. Callaway (chairman), J. J. Clark, and S. C. Brown, who were recently appointed under the Board of Trade Act to inquire into all complaints in the Otago and Southland provinces concerning high prices, opened in the Supreme Courthouse yesterday morning. The purpose of the tribunal is to obtain evidence which might lead to charges of profiteering, especially in regard to the sale of the necessaries of life. A good number of complaints were investigated at Dunedin, including several from Invercargill, and it is understood that several prosecutions are likely to follow. A fair amount of evidence was taken yesterday, and several complaints have still to be inquired into. The tribunal is desirous of hearing all the evidence possible, and every complaint will be strictly inquired into. All information received by the tribunal will be treated as confidential. Reports from the North confirm the impression of the tribunal that the mere fact of its existence has acted as a check upon the profiteer and has been of assistance to the honest trader. Although the Board of Trade has at present no jurisdiction in the matter of dealing with rents, it apparently expects to receive that power shortly, as the tribunal has been instructed to inquire into and report upon high rents generally, and in particular upon the system of sub letting rooms. The Invercargill sitting of the tribunal will be concluded to-day.