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Session 11. 1921 NEW ZEALAND.

PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, IMPORTATION, AND PRICE OF CEMENT (REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, IMPORTATION, AND PRICE OF CEMENT. Jellicoe, Governor-General. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to the Honourable William Alexander Sim, Acting Chief Justice of the Dominion of New Zealand : Greeting. Whereas during the period from Ist January, 1920, to 31st March, 1921, the price and distribution of cement of New Zealand manufacture were controlled by the Government through the Board of Trade : And whereas it is deemed expedient to appoint a Commission to inquire into and report upon certain matters relating to the production, distribution, importation, and price of cement during the period of such control: Now, therefore, I, John Rush worth, Viscount Jellicoe, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby constitute and appoint you, the said William Alexander Sim, to be a Commission to inquire into and report upon the following matters : — (1.) Whether the Board of Trade, in December, 1920, in sanctioning a maximum retail price of cement of New Zealand manufacture of £9 13s. 6d. 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, from Ist January, 1920, and thereafter, took advantage of the excess of demand over supplv to extort unreasonably high prices from, the public. (3.) Whether the agreement dated sth May, 1921, set out in the schedule hereto, constituted an offence against the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, or any other Act, or was in any way criminal or illegal.

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