PRICE STABILISATION

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 7

PRICE STABILISATION

DEFICIENCIES OF NEW REGULATIONS MANY SERIOUS ANOMALIES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 19. Many very serious anomalies would result from the Price Stabilisation Emergency Regulations, it was stated at to-night’s meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The council passed this motion: That the Associated Chambers of Commerce be requested to draw the Government’s attention to the fact that the Price Stabilisation Emergency Regulations of September 1 have given rise to many serious anomalies, and to ask that the regulations be amended so as to give effect to the principle of prevention of profiteering, without . .creating such anomalies as arise under the existing regulations.” Mr P. E. Pattrick, proposing the motion, said that while every responsible person realised the special conditions under which they were now living, he was sure that the implications of the regulations were not contemplated by their framers. Under the Price Fixation .Regulations introduced in June, a merchant had to notify the Price Fixation Tribunal of any increase in price. So long as he had a good case he could proceed with the increase with confidence. Under the Emergency Regulations, which become effective on September 1, it was not competent to increase any price without first getting the consent of the i Minister,

Supporting the motion, Mr G. C. M'Caul said that when a regulation was found impossible it brought the law into disrepute. While the emergency regulations had been framed with the best intentions, still, like some other legislation of the present Government, these regulations were hasty and ill-considered, and devised by people who did not know much about what they were doing. He had been advised that day that the war risk insurance from Antwerp to New Zealand was £7 10s per cent., and that freight had risen 25 per cent. From British West Indies the f(eights were up 100 per cent. Certain goods were always fluctuating in price, and it was absurd that a Minister of a small country like New Zealand should in these circumstances say that there must be no increases.