CHAIN STORES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 221, 18 September 1936, Page 8

CHAIN STORES

; CONTROL OF ACTIVITIES SOUGHT j HEARING OF PETITION |P.r Press Association! WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. ! Further evidence in support of the retailers’ petition to Parliament asking for legislation to control the activities of the chain and department stores, was heard by the Industries and Commerce Committee of House of Representatives. Before resuming rhe evidence, Mr A. D. Wylie, of Wellington, put in a letter from the Master Butchers’ Federation of New Zealand withdrawing their signature from the petition but said that the withdrawal was solely due to the inability of the association 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. Many business men would not come forward because of fear of victimisation. Victimisation was rife throughout New Zealand, he said, and he knew business men who would not come for|ward because they feared they would ■ lose business if they did so. A royal commission would remedy that. Asked why some 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 ■ ntil next Wednesday.