PRICE CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1939, Page 9

PRICE CONTROL

TRIBUNAL TO AUTHORISE INCREASES.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH RISING COSTS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, This Day.

An indication that in spite of the Price Stabilisation Regulations it would be possible for prices of commodities to be increased if the Price Investigation Tribunal was satisfied that this action was justified by higher costs was given by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, in a statement issued last evening. The Minister added that additional facilities were being provided to expedite decisions of the tribunal. “The Price Stabilisation Regulations make it illegal to increase the price of goods and services beyond those ruling on September 1, just before the outbreak of war,” Mr Sullivan said. “There is a provision, however, giving power to the Minister to vary prices. This provision does not appear to be as widely understood as it should be, with the result that some traders are refraining from ordering goods from abroad in the mistaken belief that they will not be permitted to recover in prices the increased costs of obtaining the goods. Applications to the Price Tribunal, accompanied by the necessary data, will be followed by permission being granted to increase the price of goods, but in strict accordance with increased costs only.

“Applications may be made to the district officers of the Industries and Commerce Department at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and direct to the Price Tribunal itself in Wellington. District officers to whom application is made will communicate with the Price Tribunal, forwarding their recommendations in each case. The utmost endeavour will be made to facilitate quick decisions, and it will be of the greatest assistance if all applicants will provide the officers or the tribunal with full data and thereby avoid delay. Additional facilities are being provided to expedite decisions. It will be in the interests of traders to co-op-erate with the tribunal, and if that is done I am satisfied that a minimum of inconvenience will be incurred."