COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 8

COST OF LIVING

AND THE BOARD OF TRADE WIDER POWERS A NEW GOVERNMENT BILL

The Board of Trado Bill, introduced in tho Houso of Eepresentatives yesterday, provides for : the setting Tip of a more efficient organisation for the regu-. lation of tho prices of commodities and the cost of living.

It proposes that a Department of Industries and Commerce shall, bo established, to consist primarily of a Minister and a Board of Trade, of which board the Minister shall be president, and a secretary to tho Department and to thi board one and tho same person. Incidentally it is provided that the hoard to ho established by this Act shall bo identioal with the present Board of Trade, and the present secretat-y of the board is to be the secretaary of the new Department. But it is suggested that the new board shall consist of four members instead of three, and tho term of apwomtraent is to be five years. The functions of tho board are defined as follow Hi) To obtain by means ot investigations and judicial .inquiries information as to the industries of NewZealand.

. (2) lo publish with respect to those industries such information as the board deems of advantage to the public; to procure by means of regulations the proper control, maintenance, and development of such industries; and such other functions relative to those industries as may bo lawfully conferred on the board, llio board is given the widest possible powers for the holding of judicial inquiries into almost any matter pertain-' mg to any industry, including "the pre\entlon or suppression of- monopolies, unfair competition, and other practices detrimental to the public welfare." Any witness may be eummoned to appear, and may he required to give evidence on oath, and to produce any books or papers or documents required of 'him by the board. Any person refusing to give evidence, or refusing to produce book's or to permit them to be inspected, shall be deemed guilty of contempt of an inferior - court of justice. For such: an offencethe Supreme Court shall have jurisdicn! on j ol f tllß motion of the Board of .trade, to deal with, the offender b v way ot hue or imprisonment. So also a- person giving falso evidence may bo charged with the crime of perjury, and be liable" accordingly. No witness ■ is to be allowed to retuso to give evidence on the plea that it may incriminate him in respect of any oftence, other than an indictable .ollence, punishable by imprisonment. For the purposes of any inquiry, one or more persons possessed of expert knowledge of the subject of the inquiry may be associated _ with the board, Persons interes«d m the subject of the inquiry may attend by counsel, and may be heard. All inquiries are to be held in private, but the board still reserves tho right to publish, any matter connected with the inquiry. The provision regarding i)I» calling of witnesses and the -production of documents is made applicable to officers of the Crown. , The board is' empowered also to make investigations by another method, likely to prove much less cumbersome and less laborious. _ Inquiries in this process may be made in writing, and answered- in writing Other penalties have to be provided for default' under this section. A person or body corporate guilty of default, and every person who counsols, procures, or is otherwise knowingly concerned in- such default, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding JJloo. Every person who decoives or obstruots the Board of Trade or any person nominated by the board for the purpose, in the conduct of an investigation, is to bo liable to a fine or Sw ? « lm Pnsonment . f or three months. Information supplied to -the board in an inquiry of this.sort is-to 1* confidential, subject to tho right of the board, reserved by the Act, to publish any mat er which may be of. benefit to the public and publication, is to be, ss^ fw ""■»"*---«»V«

m lt ■ Gov "; , J ol '-Genaral.in-Cbunoil may make regulations on the recommendation of the fcoard. of Trade for tho suppr™ sioiii of unfwr competition, for the wovenfaon or suppression. of monopolies or oombinataons, : tor the oi hxed or maximum or-minimum prices the S iSf' rf »' «WTr the piolnbihon regulation, or control of differential rates for goods or services whore tho existence of such is coSmw to bo prejudicial to any indust^' Ncw hftlT 1 , tor tlle T^ula «W aid cot trol of industries generally for their own good and for tho good of New Zealand It is expressly provided that no Board of Irade regulation is to be made deter mining the wages.or remuneraZ 0 f the employees in any industry. The penalties for breaches of result tons provide.that every personVoS m is. or attempts to commit, or counsels, procures, aids, or abets,' or incite* any other person to commit/or conspires with anv other person to' commit any of. fence against a Board of Trade regula. hon shall be liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine of je'Ofl or imprisonment for three months. No such proceedings are to'be instituted ex' cent with the.consent of the Board of frade and any such prosecution may bo i instituted at any time within five yeara alter tho commission of tho offence By another process a penalty of ,£IOOO mabe enforced against any offender, the definition of an offender being tn o eamo every, resoeot as for the summary ToT cedure In this other method, the pro. ftmrt! W in tho Su^m nrnfi? o rO ,' are 6p l e , cial 6eotion s referring to pofiteering Every perepn is, under the ijill..neld to commit an.offence who either as principal or agent, sells or sup! Plies, or oilers for sale or- supply, any (roods at an unreasonably hijV'price, and the once is to bo deemed to be un! reasonably high.if:it produces more than a lair and reasonable rate of. commercial wont to the seller. Also, it is made an offence to witnhold goods from sale if the effect of so withholding them.is to iorco up thp price of the goods on tho market. The penalty under this clauso is a fane of £200 or imprisonment for three months in tho case of an individual, or a fine of JSIOOO in tho case of a bodv corcorate. There is tho usual provision making the employer liable for the nets of hiu servant. . .