Grocers Have Trouble In Keeping Check On Price Orders, Says Counsel

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 6

Grocers Have Trouble In Keeping Check On Price Orders, Says Counsel

“There are between 700 and 800 different lines in a grocer's shop, and except for a few vegetables, all are covered by price orders, so that it is extremely difficult to keep a cheek on everything,’’ said Mr. R. S. Withers, when Maypole Stores, Ltd., were charged in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, with two breaches of price control orders. Mr. S. S. Preston, S.M., imposed a fine of £3, costs 10s, on one charge, and £l, costs 10s, on another. Crown solicitor’s fees totalled £4 4s. For the Price Tribunal, Mr. K. R. Horsley said that on April 4 an inspector called at the company's branch shop in Victoria Avenue and purchased two pounds of cooking apples for Is 2d, the correct price being Is, an overcharge of twopence. The other charge, Mr. Horsley added, related to grapefruit which was offered for sale at lid per lb, whereas the correct price was lOd, an overcharge of one penny.

The firm had seven shops in Wanganui, said Mr. Withers, who added on both occasions the manager of the shop in Victoria Avenue inadvertently made a mistake. A check showed that at all other shops owned by the company the prices were correct. So far as the apples were concerned, the manager assumed that when the wholesale price was increased there would also be an increase in the retail price, and this was where he made the mistake. Only one case of grapefruit was in the shop and the manager charged what he thought ar the time was the correct price, said Mr. Withers.

In reply to the magistrate, Mr. Withers said that this was the first prosecution against the company. “Grapefruit is rather an unusual line and it is not a staple item ot diet," said the magistrate.