CHAIN STORE INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 14

CHAIN STORE INQUIRY

DISCRIMINATION ON STAPLE ARTICLES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 1. The chain stores inquiry was resumed to-day, Mr J. Hodgens presiding over the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry. The chairman said., the committee had decided to confine its investigation in the main to the activities of chain and departmental stores as covered by the petition. Evidence was given by Mr IE J. Mouatt, manager of Foodstuffs Ltd., who claimed that unfair discrimination was made by manufacturing and distributing concerns on many staple commodities. By refusing admission to their wholesale lists these firms placed traders against whom discrimination was made at a serious disadvantage. Ho instanced the position existing with regard to tho Colonial Sugar Company Ltd., Auckland, which ho claimed afforded a glaring instance of unwarranted discrimination being made. His company could not purchase sugar from tho Colonial Sugar Company, which supplied firms directly or indirectly interested in chain stores. Mr J. F. Turnbull, president of the Wellington Master Grocers’ Association, submitted the following proposals: gain stores engage in the sale of any articles or lines coming within the scope of any trade or business which is ■governed by an award they should he compelled to apply throughout the whole of the stores tho rate, wages, and conditions of the award most beneficial to the ,employees; (2) that a manufacturer or -producer of any articles or goods should be empowered to fix a reasonable retail price at which his goods must'be sold. The hearing was adjourned till next Thursday.