THE PROFITEER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16034, 27 January 1920, Page 5

THE PROFITEER.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST OFFENDERS.

GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO WAKE UP. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 26. The Prime Minister authorises the following statement regarding the operations of the anti-profiteering clauses of the Hoard of Trade Act passed Oast session; Since the passing of that Act, the method of organisation for the enforcement of the powers conferred by Statute to deal with cases of profiteering have been fully considered from all points of view. Section 32 provides that every person commits an offence who, either as principal or agent, sells or supplies, or offers for sale or supply, any goods at a price which is unreasonably high, and that the price of any -goods shall be deemed unreasonably high if it produces, or is calculated to produce, more than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit to the person selling or supplying or offering to sell or sujjply these goods, or to his principal.

The section also makes it an offence to hoard or to refuse to sell goods if hoarding, or refusal tends to raise the cost of other similar goods to the public.

Various methods for the enforcement of this Section have been considered by the Board of Trade, and in particular the establishment of tribunals similar to those set up under England’s Prifiteering Act. There are, however, objections to entrusting the preliminary investigation authorised by New Zealand either to local comrpittees or to local governing bodies. It may be found necessary at a later date to appoint special officers in each provincial district to enable the Board of Trade to fully perform the duties entrusted to it hy Parliament. For the present, and in order to provide for immediate requirements, an arrangement has been made by which inspectors and officials of the Labour Department will co-oper-ate with the Board of Trade. Any member of the public who has evidence that an offence against the statutory prohibition of excess profits has been committed, should communicate with the nearest official of the Department of Labour. That official will forward the particulars of the complaint to the Board of Trade, under whose direction the matter will he fully investigated. If it be found that there be proof of the commission of an offence, proceedings against the offender will be taken, under the direction of the Board of Trade, every prosecution being conducted by the Crown solicitor of the district. It is the intention of the Government to rigidly enforce the provisions of the Act. The right of any individual aggrieved himself to take proceedings is not interfered with. That right is, however, in all cases limited by the statutory requirements that no prosecution under the Act may be instituted without the previous consent of the Board of Trade.