'Do Not Delay Price Rises’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 1

'Do Not Delay Price Rises’

UVeu> Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 8. A director of the Australian National Cash Register Company, Mr M. F. Whiddon, warned New Zealand retailers at their annual conference at the Chateau Tongariro today not to delay legitimate price increases until the change to decimal currency occurred.

Such a practice, he said, might lead to unjustified criticisms of profiteering. W’here price increases appeared necessary during the change-over, particularly where there was a high volume of low-price articles, it might be necessary to adjust the value of the goods, vary their weight, vary the

number a pack, or even produce a multi-pack, he said. In Australia competition was one of the major factors in deterring profiteering. The conversion of cash registers could create some problems. Mr Whiddon warned. Although the New Zealand Government had been looking at conversion from the point of view of saving overseas funds, many of the converted machines would have a limited capacity, and this would involve double ringing, which would increase the chances of error.

Australia did not face shortage of overseas funds, he said, and did not therefore experience this problem.

Address To Union.—The president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) will address the annual conference of the North Island Electrical Workers’ Union tomorrow week. The union, which left the federation some years ago. is expected to reaffiliate this year.—(P.A.)