COST OF LIVING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13701, 7 June 1912, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

The Commission in Dunedin. WHOLESALE GROCERY MERCHANTS REFUSE TO GIVE EVIDENCE. Existence of a Combine. (By Telegraph.—Special to Hkeaud.) DUNEDIN, June G. The Commission of Inquiry appointed to consider the question us to the causes responsible for the alleged increase in the cost of living, now sitting in Dunedin. subpoenaed' the wholesale grocery merchants. They were represented before tbe Commission, by Mr VV. C. McGregor, solicitor, who stated that be had* ddvisbd Gicin not to appear and give evidence. Ihe Commission bad notified the' firms concerned by letter that there was an allegation that they luul entered' f into a combination for tbe purpose of fixing prices and restraining trade. Ihe Commission considered tbe matter m committee, and decided to report such refusal to the proper authorities. Although the Commissions of liHiulrt' Act provides a penalty up to .£2O for rcfn.sal to give evidence, it is possible that owing to some flaw in tbe Art or in the scope of the Commission itself Ibis class of evidence cannot bo insisted upon at present. 1

On the other hand, overwhelming evidence has already been submittted to the (aimmission to the effect that a combina--1011 does exist here, tbe operation of . 10 1 has resulted in a very considerable increase in tbe selling prices of staple commodities of cvervday use. The evidence given yesterday hr a retail grocer of over 20 years' standing was corroborated to-day by a number of other witnesses directly concerned in the trade As the pnrtKise of the Commission is to get at the bottom of these matters it is to be hoped that the authorities will find a way of compelling these witnesses to give evidence and to let the public know tho wholo trui-li.

The retail grocers concerned arc in agreement in stating that the rises in the niices during recent years are entirely trait-able to the operations of the Merchants Association, and. further, that the reductions in the tariff have not had the effect of'reducing the selling price to the consumers. This appears to" indicate that practical? the whale of the reduction an ed by the tariff has been pocketed u 'e wholesale merchants Tile Commission is, it is reported, in possession of evidence relating to the Association's methods, but if the tactics ado,ited here are to be followed in other towns, tbey must not complain if tbo pnbisjss h "' —k.