COST OF LIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

[STATEMENT BV MR SULLIVAN FALL IN ALL GROUPS INDEX. WORK OF PRICE TRIBUNAL. (Ey Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. Commenting today on the cost of living the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) said recently he had mentioned that the all groups index of whosesale prices had remained at the same level —namely 995 points. These figures were questioned and suggestions were made that recourse to the food groups index figures would reveal that instead of prices having remained stable, there had been a decided increase in costs. The full table was now available j and it showed that the retail prices index fell by one point during September, from 1060 to 1059 points as compared with the previous mouth. This fall was caused by a fall of 36 points in the dairy produce group, particularly in retail prices for eggs and in some towns for milk. The statistics showed that there had been an increase of 9 points in groceries and 19 points in the meat groups. So far as the meat group was concerned the rise was seasonal and authority to increase prices had been granted by the Price Investigation Tribunal to meet the increased costs of supplies at various markets.

So far as increases in the index for groceries were concerned, it should be remembered, added Mr Sullivan, that prices for many commodities that were imported had risen due to the crisis preceding the outbreak of war and to the situation created by the war. The Government could not control these factors, but it could control the extent to which prices were permitted to rise. This was being very efficiently done by the Price Investigation Tribunal which was holding the balance true between all sections of the community. "T should like m make it clear that the price stabilisation regulations make it an offence to raise the level of prices beyond those ruling on September l last without the specific permission of the tribunal, - ' said Mr Sullivan. “This | applies to the retailor as well as the | wholesaler and it should clearly be i understood that applications for per- ' mission to raise prices must be made. The tribunal will expedite replies to requests and will telegraph the necessary authority where circumstances make this method essential. An effective control of prices must bo maintained and the operations of the tribunal have had the effect of keeping unavoidable increase within reasonable limits. To facilitate the completion of granting permission or otherwise, the tribunal has decided in several instances to recognise representations from trade groups or organisations such as the Drapers' Federation, the Grocers' Federation, etc, as being applicable to the entire trade. This has speeded up the work. Another system adopted has been that of permitting applications to be made to district offices of the Department of Industries and Commerce at Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch or Dunedin."