PROFITEERING GROCER

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5885, 13 April 1920, Page 3

PROFITEERING GROCER

FINED HUNDRED POUNDS

A M ELLIN’S FOOD SALE

MAGISTRATE’S COMMENTS

(By Telcgrar.il.—Press Association.}

Bertie Smith, graoor, charged With profiteering by selling Hellin's Food at 3s 9d a bottle, a gross profit of 04 per cent., was fined £I.OO, and £7 costs. In giving judgment Mr Page, S.M., said the price charged by tEe defendant for a bottle of Moilin'}, food represented a profit of 61 per cent upon cost. It was not easy for the Court to say what was a reasonable rate of commercial profit in respect of any particular goods, but it thought the ultimate test must tie the rate of interest that tho handling of goods would produce upon the capital invested fn the business. After making provision for proper outgoings and contingencies ho based Ins decision, as above,, on balance-sheets relating to the defendant’s business put before th? Court.