TO CHECK PROFITEERING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 104, 27 January 1920, Page 7

TO CHECK PROFITEERING

BOARD OF TRADE PLANS.

The night Hon. the Prime Minister authorises the following statement regarding the operation of the anti-profiteering causes of the Board of Trade Act passed Inst, session (section 32):— Since the passing of that Act the method of organisation for enforcement of the powers conferred by tho statute to deal with cases of profiteering has been very fully considered from all points of view. Section 32 provides that every Dorson commits ah offence who, cither ns principal or agent, sells or supplies, or offers for sale or supply any goods at a price which is unreasonably high; and tliat the nrice of any goods shall be deemed to be unreasonably high if it produces, or is calculated to produce, inore than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit to tho person selling or supplying or offering to sell or 6upply those roods, or'.to his principal. The faction also makes it nn offence to hoard or to refuse to sell goods, if the hoarding or refusal tends to raise the cost of other similar goods to tho public. Various methods for the enforcement of this section have been considered by the Board of Trade, and, in particular, the establishment of tribunals similar to those set rip under the English Profiteering Act. There nre, -however, objections to entrusting the preliminary investigation authorised by the New Zealand Act either to local committees or to local governing bodies. It tnav be found necessary at a later date to appoint special officers in encli provincial district to enable the Board of Trade to fully perform the duties entrusted to it by Parliament. For the present, and in order to provide for the immediate requirements, an arrangement has been made by which the inspectors and officials of tho Labour Department will co-onorate with the Board of Trade. Anv member of tho public who bo's evidenco (hat an offence- against the statutory prohibition of excess profits has been committed should communicate with the nearest official of the Department of La-: hour. That official will forward particulars of the complaint to the Board of Trade, under whose direction tho matter will be fully investigated. If it bo found 'that there is proof of the commission of ah offence, proceedings against the offender will bo taken under the direction of" the Board of Trade, every prosecution being conducted by the Crown solicitor of the district! , It is tho/mention of the Government to rigidly enforce the provisions of tho Act. The right of any individual aggrieved himself to take- proceedings is

not interfered with. That right is, however, in nil 'cases limited by the e-tahit--1 civ rcauircmont that no prosecution under the Act,may Jio Instituted without the previous consent of the Board of Trade. Mr. Mas«sv was asked what view tlio Board of Trade took, in considering what

Fnould he a fair rate of. profit, of the miestion of whether the rate of profit "i should be calculated on the actual cost of Mods or I lie cost of tho.se same goods In the wholesale market to-day. Mr. Mnssev replied: That is a matter for the Court to decide. !