PRICES IN HAMILTON

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14229, 2 December 1919, Page 5

PRICES IN HAMILTON

BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY

ACTION AGAINST PROFITEERS

EARLY RELIEF IN SUGAR. Despite the fact that according ',o latest statistics the cost of living in Hamilton has increased to the second highest of towns in the Dominion, with a rise of 46.7 per cent in food and rent, the surprising statement was made to a Times reporter to-day, by Mr J. R. Hart (president of the Board of Trade) that his wife found articles of drapery so cheap at one Hamilton establishment she visited, that she decided to take a quantity back with her to Auckland. Prices in these lines, at any rate, were lower than had been found in other places. Mr Hart's visit to the town was not in any way official, though while here he inquired into prices of certain commodities. Asked if anything further was being done towards stopping profiteering, Mr Hart said that under the new Act, the Board of Trade was empowered to place a staff of accountants into any business establishment where profiteering was suspected. This staff would take charge of the books and make a thorough investigation of the accounts. Under the old Act this was not possible. Another member will be appointed to the Board, and when this i; done new regulations will be framed according to the provisions of the latest legislation,, and action against suspected firms will be commenced. Speaking of high rents, Mr Hart said these were at present, governed by legislation, and it was probably this fact that acted as a deterrent to building, for with the present price of material, property owners would not undertake building operations with limited rents. Speaking - of foodstuffs, Mr Hart said the Government had prohibited the export of sugar products, which would go some distance towards preventing a rise in these lines. Importations of sugar goods, such as confectionery and preserved'fruits, were abnormally high,, for sugar in America and Canada wasvery dear at the present time. He predicted that the cost of living was not yet at its zenith, and that prices I would continue to rise for some time. As far as the sugar shortage in Waikato was concerned, he thought the district could look forward to relief in this respect shortly.