COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2586, 7 October 1915, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

PROPOSALS OF NEW BILLS

BOARD OF TRADE TO BE SETUP

The Cost 'of Living Bill, introduced by Sir Joseph Ward has been circulated. Following are some of the more important provisions in -the Bill:— "A. Board of Trade is-hereby established, consisting of the' Minister j of Industries and Commerce and two otjier persons to be appointed-by the Governor) who shall hold offico for a term of three years, and may,be reappointed. Each of the said appointed members shall be paid such annual salary as, is from time to time appropriated by Parliament for the purpose. Any of the said appointed members may be suspended or removed by tho Governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct. ■ Any of the said appointed mem-, bers shall be deemed to have vacated his office if" lie—(a) Engages during his term of office jin any paid employment or any business outside the duties of his' : office; (b) becomes bankrupt, compounds with his creditors, or makes an assignment of his salary for their benefit; (c) absents himself from duty for a period of fourteen consecutive days, except on lea'vo granted by. tlie Governor, or becomes incapable of performing his duties: (d) resigns his office, by writing under his hand' addressed to tho Governor. ' Minister to Preside. "In the case of the illness, : suspension, or absence' of any appointed member the Governor may appoint a deputy lo act for hini during his illness, suspension, or-absenco; and every such t deputy shall, duHng the time he acts as deputy, have .all the powers and anthority of tho-member for whom ho is acting. ■ ' "The Minister of Industries and Commerce shall be the President of the Board. The Public Service Commissioner may. from time to time appoint some person to be the secretary to tho Board of Trade, and may also appoint such other persons as he thinks fit for the purpose of carrying on. the business of tho board. Duties of the Board. "Tho Board of Trado is hereby em,powered—. - "(a) i To : investigate and ■ report to the Governor ■ upon any case in which it is alleged that there has been an infringement ■of any of the provisions of the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910. : . "(b) To inquire into and report to. the Governor; upon matters affecting the cost of living,'or upon any other question referred to it by ttie Governor relating to the supiply, demand, or price of commodities. "(c) To inquire into and report to the Governor upon; any complaint that ■ the price of any class of goods is unreasonably high. v v - ' ■-f (d) -To consider, inquire into, and report upon any question relating to tho trade, commerce,', or business of Now Zealaridi which may. be referred to it by . the Governor; . "(o) To institute inquiries: in reference to markets for goods'produced or inanufacturod. in 1 New Zealand, to report the result, of such inquiries, to the Governor, and to make recommendations to the Governor in regard to trade with other countries. ,' "(f) To - make recommendations .to the Governor for legislation in relation ti matters referred to it! for consideration; and ..."■ ■ ! "(g) Generally to' adviso tho Governor as the . trade, industries, and commerce of New Zealand can be -best encouraged, developed, and.protected," Another clause proposes-'to amend the Commercial Trusts :• Act by making :it apply to "any article of food for human consumption, and ; ingredients used in the manufacture of. any such article." Powers of Local Bodies. . ' Tho following other clauses are in the Bill:— V- ; ; ■ "The Governor may from time to tims, : by Order-in-Council' gazetted, make regulations authorising and controlling— _. . . . ~' "(a) The establishment by borough councils of milk, stations for testing, treating,Vand ' distributing the milk supply of the borough; and the carrying on by borough, councils of the, business of a dealer in milk-and milk products and ice.' "(b) Tho establishment, equipment, and maintenance by'borough councils of refrigerating chambers' and chambers for the ! cool storage of articles of food of a perishable nature intended for human consumption. ,

"(c) The establishment, equipment, and maintenance) by borough councils of bakeries, and the carrying on by such Councils of the business of a baker ; and

"(d) Tlie establishment, equipment, and maintenance by .borongh councils .of brick-making-'works, and tho carrying on by such councils of Uhe business of a brick maher.,

• "Snch regulations |may apply generally to all borough counoils or to any specified borough council."