REGULATING PRICES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 7

REGULATING PRICES

WORK OF BOARD OF TRADE. The third annual, report of the Board of Trade was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. The board gives the following very brief review of the year's work:— "As was the case last year, tho -work of tho board for tiie period uader review has, consisted mainly, in inquiries into matters affecting tho cost of living, and especially, upon questions relating to the supply, demand, or price of commodities, and into complaints that the prices of particular classes of goods aro. unreason, ably high. Special attention was paid during tho yea.r to the importation, sale, and distribution of petrol; to a scheme for the standardisation of footwear; to the placing of. restrictions on tho export of timber; and to 'a comprehensive inquiry into the coal industry Theso matters are dealt with in detail later, on in this report.

"Two hundred and sixty, complaints were received regarding tho high prices of commodities. These complaints were investigated, and, wherever iu the opinion of tho board it was deemed desirable, adjustments of prices have been made. In addition the board received eighty-one deputations and .examined 242 witnesses, "A wido range 'of commodities has been under tho control of the board, and no upward movement in prices has been sanctioned without full investigation. In addition to iifty-seven main grocery items comprising household essentials, tho board has'kept 'control of manufacturers' pnets in grocery linos, such as soap, condensed milk, sugar, candles, jams, matches, baking-powder, canued meats, etc.

'.'The prices of bacon,, wheat, flour, bread, bran, pollard, hides and skins, and petrol have been fixed' by Order-in-Council; and, by arrangement with, tho federated sawmillers throughout the Dominion, no increase in the price of timber has been made since November 1, 1918. Detailed references to these commodities will be found later, in this report. "Generally speaking, the. applications mndo by merchants and-tradespeople for increases in prices have been well founded, but in a. few instances tin board has refused to grant such applications where, after close investigation of the evidence and balance-sheets, submitted, the circumstances did not appear to warrant the granting of the increases. The consumers' interests have been closely watched by the board in dealing with prices."