Board of Trade Act, 1919.

Progress, Volume XV, Issue 8, 1 April 1920, Page 771

Board of Trade Act, 1919.

The following is a digest of the., New Zealand Board of Trade Act, 1919, prepared by Mr. F. Cooper, Secretary to the Canterbury Employers’ Association, and published for general information. The Board of Trade Act, 1919 (Nov. 4, 1919), is designed to make better provision for the maintenance and control of the industries, trade and commerce of New Zealand. . The Act provides that if you are engaged, for profit, in any trade, business, profession or undertaking, you may be called by the Board of Trade which consists of the Minister for Commerce and four others, three to form a quorum—to answer any question, and produce any books or documents in order to satisfy the Board whether you are obtaining more than is deemed by it to be a fair and reasonable profit, or whether you are destroying or hoarding goods or refusing to make them available for sale, in order to enhance the value of other similar goods to the public. Regulations may make it an offence to differentiate in rates for goods or services as between different persons or classes of persons.— 2,6, 14, 32 (3), 26 (la). An inquiry either for prosecution or investigation may be held at the instance of the Board on its own initiative, or by reference from GovernorGeneral, or at the instance of any person.—Section 13. . ' > - ■ • " , ~ - The Board may do this either in its own corporate capacity or through association of experts, who may be your competitors. Failure to complv with requests of Board as to evidence, production of books, etc., is an offence punishable by a fine of £IOO or three months’ imprisonment. —Sections 17 (1), 18 (1). ' : Offenders against any trade regulation shall be liable on summary conviction before a magistrate to a fine of £2OO or three months’ imprisonment under one section; £IOOO penalty under another section.— Sections 30 (1), 31 (1) , ' Offenders against regulations in respect of selling, supplying, or offering to sell or supply any goods at a price which is unreasonably high are liable in the ease of persons .to £2OO fines, and in the case of corporate bodies to £IOOO. The offence may date back three years or five years. Sections 32 (4), 30 i (3). . :

No prosecution shall be instituted except with the consent of the Board of Trade.—Sections 31 (10), 30 (2). The Board has power to fix maximum and minimum selling prices.—Sections 32 (6), 21 (10). The Board must investigate privately, but may publish facts, and is free from action for defamation. The Board may issue inquiries to be answered by letter to a time and in a form required. Refusal to comply or false information, is punishable by a fine of £100; deceit or obstruction, £IOO or three months ’ imprisonment. The information is confidential, but the Board may publish, and publication is privileged.—Sections 21, 23 (2), 23 (4), 23 (5), 23 (6).