SALE OF TOBACCO

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 115, 13 February 1928, Page 6

SALE OF TOBACCO

COMPLAINTS OF PRICECUTTING UNIFORM CLOSING TIME WANTED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, February 11. Auckland has taken the lead in endeavouring to find the solution of tiie price-cutting difficulty that, is being experienced by tobacconists through oilier shopkeepers selling, at practically cost prices, such goods only us a sideline for the purpose ot catching other business. That is the position in most of tiie larger towns of the Dominion, and consequently a Tobacconists’ Association has been formed in each of the four centres. So serious has the position become that tobacconists point out that if there profits are taken away they may have to discharge the men assistants, and take on girls. Au endeavour is being made to have a conference in Wellington, representing the whole of New Zealand, and meetings of tobacconists are being convened to discuss the position, and to appoint delegates to any conference that may be held. New Zealand, it is contended, is the only part of the British Empire where prices are not fixed by manufacturers under Government supervision, and the opinion lias been expressed that unless some such control is exercised wellknown brands of tobacco and cigarettes will continue to be sold at prices very little above cost. At picsent the Board of Trade has certain powers, of cont rol which it does not exercise. The position is so serious, however, that an Act to confer such power is considered necessary. A petition in this connection has been forwarded to the Minister of Labour, it contains resolutions in respect to gazetting the hours of closing. As soon as that is gazetted every retailer who' stocks tobacco and cigarettes will l>o compelled to observe the same hours as tobacconists. This Act, which came into operation on the first of the present month, makes it. obligatory for every person who sells tobacco and cigarettes to notify the fact to the Labour Department.