CHAIN STORES

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 3

CHAIN STORES

HEARING OF RETAILERS’ PETITION ATTITUDE OF BUSINESS MEN (United Press Association.) Wellington, September 17. Further evidence in support of the retailers’ petition to Parliament asking for legislation to control the activities of chain department stores was heard by the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives. Before resuming his evidence Mr A. D. Wylie, of Wellington, put in a letter from the Master Butchers’ Federation of New Zealand withdrawing its signature from the petition, but said the withdrawal was solely due to the inability of the federation to give financial support as the butchers were behind the petition. Mr Wylie suggested that the committee should recommend the setting up of a Royal Commission so that business men could give evidence in support of the petition not only in Wellington, but also throughout New Zealand. With the Press present at the committee many business men would not. come forward because of fear of victimization. Victimization was rife throughout New Zealand, he said, and he knew business men who would not come forward because they feared they would lose business if they did so. A Royal Commission would remedy that. Asked why some of the petitioners had written to the committee saying that their signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation, Mr Wylie contended that it was not possible for a person of common sense to sign a thing without reading it. There were only two lines to read in the petition. The hearing was adjourned until next Wednesday.