SELLING PRICE OF PETROL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2863, 30 August 1916, Page 6

SELLING PRICE OF PETROL

BOARD OF TRADE REPORT. The Now Zealand Board of Trade has been inquiring into tho selling price of petrol, and has reported as follows:—"After careful inquiry the board cannot And that any ring or combination is in existence in New Zealand to control the prico of petrol, and prices aro decided in open competition between tho llirgest suppliers, and do not appear to have been unreasonable. Neither is ttiere any scaling of prices to or by merchants. The increases are fully accounted for up to the present time by _ the many increases-'in supplies and freights, over which no power.in New Zealand has any control. It will, however, bo the business of the Board of Trado to watch further rises carefully, and we'Buggest.it be made compulsory by the Government that the companies show.cause before being allowed to in, crease the prico from time to time, as iu Australia, where prices as adjusted by tbo Necessary Commodities Control Commission of Now South Wales are on a parity with New Zealand prices at the present time.

"The prices dealt with have all been Wellington quotations, whilst at other New Zealand ports they are higher through the cost of transhipment, which varies from 6d. to Is. a case, or oven more, at Gisbomc, and these transhipment charges cannot bo avoided, but arc borne in part by the suppliers. Speculative buying on the part of private consumers tends to increaso prices, as stocks must be held until the arrival of next shipments, and the firms must put up prioes to protect tho stocks. Should a quick fall occur outside Now Zealand tho importers are likely to get left without a demand for their holdings, owing to the private stocks held which wonld bo used to carry ou until the cheap oils como in. The board considers that tho complaint made by tho Wairarapa Automobile Association is fully answered in the foregoing report."