GOODS OVERCHARGED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 78, 4 June 1943, Page 5

GOODS OVERCHARGED

PRICE TRIBUNAL'S ACTION

DAIRY COMPANY'S POSITION

NOMINAL FINE IMPOSED

The first charges brought by ■■the Price Tribunal against firms operating in the Whakatane district were heard before Mr E. L. Walton, S.ML, in the Magistrate's Court last Tuesday. The - only contested case was that brought against the Rangijtaiki Plains Dairy Company Ltd., regarding the sales of two items y onf March 15 which were not,, it was claimed in conformity with ~the price order list. Mr T. H. Giilies who appeared for *he prosecution, said that, the defendant company had .supplied to - H. S. Me.vted otilbs of potatoes at ~a cost of 11/8, the correct price as listed being only 9/8. The second related to the sale of. solder at 3/9 which was a penny in excess •of the fixed charge. Harold, Lipscombe, Government inspector, who gave evidence of the transaction, admitted the right of the company to charge for freight ''isand also that the figure governing the selling price of solder was not -listed in the. statutory regulations _published by the Government. Profits to Shareholders Mr Otlcy who defended, said that "the, company was a co-operative one -and any profits from the trading ■department were automatically re--batcd" back to the purchasers on a 'comparative basis of goods bought. The Magistrate: Can a member of the public purchase there? Mr Otley: Tlicy can, but they are jnot encouraged and it would be exceptional. Mr R. E. Blair, Secretary-Man-ager, said that the store turnover last year was £70,500. The com-' pany operated under twelve, different awards and employed a staff of • 5)0. He described the costing sys- . tem in vogue and said that, the 10 per cent prolit oh all goods showed very little variation. The company ■ -could stand competition in almost .any line.

Price Order Lists ■ The company took steps to procure the bound volumes of price lists issued by the Government. No trace could be found of the order 127 (potatoes) and so far none of i 5)7 (solder). The company had not received any copies of the . gazette covering the. prices. Magistrate: As a matter of Vaw is one entitled to vise the argument that the company did not "rc- • ceive a reprint of the gazette? Mr Otley: We are merely showing that the company took all reasonable steps. The Magistrate:. Docs the Gov--ernment printer refuse to sell you "copies? Mr Otley: No sir, but .thousands would, not be worth studying. The -•company would only be interested in one or two. The Magistrate: You might, say -the same of a newspaper notice. You don't read all the newspaper. Docketing' System

Witness then described the method of docketing shareholders lor . goods supplied pointing out that ,the genuine account did not leave thp .office until the 20th of the following month. In this case, the invoice, which after all was. regarded as ligitimate account had been . adjusted showing the potatoes reduced from 11/8 to 10/6 which was . the correct price. The Magistrate said that apparently the company was in the habit * of selling at a price which until it was linaliy put on a billhead waH subject to adjustment. If the subject had not been raised the pricfj. jvould still have been that complained of. On the other hand the ■ defendant company had taken all reasonable steps to keep pace with •the regulations and therefore the .. fine would be a purely nominal one. The Tribunal, said 1 Mr Walton, was apparently relying on the Government printer to do his job,, and apparently he had not been doing it. The law could not punisli him for, that. He appreciated also the diffi- • culty which would have to be faced if every storekeeper in the country applied for copies of tlie gazette notices. It could not p i?! done. Ih, (Continued in next column)

Mr Lipscombe reminded the court that, price orders were broadcast over the air and also listed in the post offices. The Magistrate: And I can tell you, if your asking lor technicalities, that a dairy company is. a fictitious, person which cannot be reached by radio announcements. A fine of. 10s on each charge plus costs £2 12s (id was entered.

OTHER DISTRICT CHARGES excessive MEAT PRICE The Price Tribunal also took steps against severll district storekeepers for offences under the same regulations* Bernard Magee, butcher of Matata was charged with selling, a pound of lilet steak for 1/6 when the listed price Avas but 1/1, and also with failing to have a list of prices displayed in his shop. Defendant said that though the sale had been made by liis assistant, he himself was honestly unaware that a price order list, covering butcheries existed. He had since checked ujj with the. list and foynd that in a good many instances he had been undercharging and would be better oil' by adhering to it. The Magistrate (drily): Then you'll be able to pay your fine. Defendant was lined £5 on the first charge and £2 and costs on the second.

Candles and Rice l Messrs Lees and Anderson (Matata) Mr Otley, pleaded guilty to the sale of a candle and 31bsi of Australian rice at prices exceeding those fixed by the Food Regulations. The candles which had been sold at 4d was listed at 3d and the rice, sold at 1/9 per lb, at 1/4 %d. Mr Otley explained, that the xiresent manager, Mr Lees, was carrying on shigle handed a store prer Viously requiring the services of three adults. Under the great strain of responsibility he had apparently made an inadvertant overcharge. The Magistrate: He didn't manage to make, an undercharge! Fines of £2 with costs were imposed in each instance. Sale of Nails M. Michael, Ltd., Edgecumbc, were charged with an over charge of (id for 2^lbs of galvanised nails. Mr Otiey defending, pleaded guilty, but. stated that the nails were not a permanent line and were stored some distance from the shop and the. charge had been at KM per lb* instead of There was. no intention to make an excessive profit. Fined £4 and costs.