PRICE OF CEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14776, 15 October 1921, Page 5

PRICE OF CEMENT

llfm MASTERS' CHARGES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A warrant, appointing the Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1008, promised by (he Government, to inquire into and report upon the allegations made recently in the House by Mr Masters (Stratford), relating to the production, distribution, importation and price of cement during certain periods of control by the Board of Trade, was signed this morning by the Governor-General. As previously stated, the Commission is to be Mr Justice Sim. The scope of the Commission was made available this afternoon by the Minister of Industries and Commerce. 11 is as follows: ■ (1) Whether the Board of Trade in December, 1920, in sanctioning a maximum retail price of cement of New Zealand manufacture of £9 13s Cd per ton. ex store Wellington, was guilty : of any impropriety or of a grievous error of judgment. : (2) Whether the companies manufacturing cement in New Zealand during the period of acute shortage of . cement fr.om Ist January, 1920, and i thereafter, took advantage of the excess of demand.over supply to ex- : tort unreasonably high prices from ] the public. ( (3) Whether the agreement, dated i sth May, 19-21, set out in the schedule i hereto, constituted an offence against I the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, or < any oilier Act, or was in any way ; criminal or illegal. (i) Whether the price for cement of New Zealand manufacture was directly or indirectly determined, eontrolled or influenced by the parties to the agreement in such manner as lo make the price unreasonably lush. (5) Whether the said agreement has in any manner operated detrimentally lo the public interest, (G) Whether the Board of Trade. being aware of such an agreement, was lacking in any duty in taking no action with respect to such agreement, a The date upon which the Corrniis- u sion is to sit will be decided by Mr d Justice Sim.