PRICE-CUTTING RESEATED

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1928, Page 11

PRICE-CUTTING RESEATED

GROCERS WANT LEGISLATION TRADESMEN URGED TO MOVE. CABINET’S POLICY EXPLAINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. At the request of the Master Grocers’ conference, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. A. D. McLeod), was present at a sitting to hear the discussion on the following remit: “That this federation urges upon manufacturers, packers and wholesale distributors the adoption of such measures as they are legally entitled to take to prohibit the cutting of goods below a price which shows a fair margin to the retailer, and it further pledges its best efforts to secure the whole-hearted support of the Dominion grocers’ trade for those manufacturers, packers and distributors who are prepared to adopt such measures.” Tho secretary of the federation (Mr. J. Heaton Barker) said that even the Government transgressed because, coming from Auckland, they saw in a railway refreshment rooms Havelock tobacco at Is 6d per tin, which' no grocer could sell at that price. Mr. Bisley: Does the Government pay Customs duty? Mr. Heaton said they contended that ths manufacturer had an unalienated right to his goods till they reached the consumer, and he should have the right, save for Government interference, to fix prices. A slight amendment to the present Commercial Trusts Act would give them what they needed. It was easy to say as the commission on Proprietary Articles Trades’ Association did: "Thou shalt not,” but they wanted to know what they could do to get fair returns for distributing the necessaries of life. EVIL OF TIME PAYMENT. No steps apparently were taken to deal with one evil of the day, time payment. In such cases up to 31 per cent, was charged for accommodation. Would it not be possible, as in Queensland, to make prices subject to Government approval? The grocers were agreeable to recognise the difference between “cash and carry” grocers, and those who delivered goods. The evils of price-cutting were on the increase and, that being admitted, they had the right to ask tho Government to interfere. To a very large extent the average price-cutter had no regard for his fellows and for the increasing status of the trade in which the conference was interested, He hopes they would hear of the present Minister of Industries and Commerce introducing a Bill. After a general discussion the Minister, in reply, said it was not the Government they had to educate on- these matters but the public. In the great majority of eases the people of New Zealand were fair-minded, and there was no general desire that people should trade in a manner not yielding a reasonable profit, both to ths employee and the employer, but the feeling in the minds of the primary producers was that the man who starts in a big way of business, keeps a big staff going, and has perhaps a motor car or two, was a millionaire and was making a fortune, and some control over him was needed. Mr. McLeod said ho held, a dual position as Minister of Industries and Commerce and ho tried to keep the balance even. When considering ths statements of these conflicting interests his advice to each was that they should try to understand each other better, Generally speaking, the manufacturers and retailers, through their various organisations, had done their share in trying to get in touch with the man on the land, and large farmers (not some of their socalled representatives) were reasonable and prepared to listen to the views of the man in town. He had listened to their discussion. After all their request involved a matter of policy. When his leader took up the reins of Government (ho did not know whether that gave him his majority, but to some extent the people gave the majority because of it}, he made his policy: "More business in Government and lees Government in business.” It was not a job that could be done in a day, but the aim of Cabinet was to have as little interference with business by the Government as was possible. That was in tho mind of their leader, and of all tho Cabinet, and he wanted them to understand it clearly. He thanked them for putting forward their views, which would have full consideration. . .