PRICE CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 2

PRICE CONTROL

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS difficulties of trade BUSINESS MEN WORRIED The .uncertainty which existed in the minds of many members ot the Wellington Chamber of Commerce about price fixation and import rekirietibhk was referred to by the secretory. 'Mr: E M. Bardsley, at a meeting of the chamber. Mr. Bardsley read a letter from a member of the chamber asking for a. statement on the bosition ■ .so that j members might know what was being, done and what were the prospects, of .the regulations being amended. r 'The president, Caiftain. "S. Holm, said the-Assodated- \\i Chambers of Clommertte ’-had the .hand, bill until they made a statement the r. ’eps taken were confidential. ■•‘T would "like fd.'give an assurance tb the business people of Wellington -nd of New Zealand that the Associated Chambers of. Commerce have bben working very hard and consistently for a month in endeavouring id- bring before Ministers a realisation, of the . serious results likely to follow the process they have set in motion,” said Mr. M. G. C. McCaul “Wei all "recognise that Ministers of tile Crown are not trained business men and they - have no knowledge ol

many-nf ■ the -matters' -in -which they are dealing. The' Associated Chambers have been endeavouring quietly ana unostentatiously to show them the difficulties they are creating and what we will- at! have to 1 face, so .'that they may be able in a sense to put the New Zealand house in- order.” The question of prices had -cropbed up in a letter read by the secretary, continued Mr. ’McCaul. Members knew that on the outbreak of war the Government had brought down regulations to prevent prices soaring That was quite right as a temporary measure. It was done in, all countries to give time for thought pending, the introduction of legislation m prevent profiteering, but ■it -should r.ot prevent the flow of trdde, and ■nrofst was necessary to pay for the war If profit was eliminated ' • the country doing that would speedily suffer. “What is necessary, and we business people realise it,” said. Mr.. McCaul, ‘‘is prevention of the individual making a profit at the expense of his fellows. We do not want the war profiteer. He is objectionable, and most of all to'the- commercial class, wh6 have very high ideals.”