COST OF LIVING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

ONE POINT DECREASE j RETAIL PRICE LEVELS j MINISTER’S * FIGURES j GROCERIES AND MEAT Upj (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Commenting to-day on the cost of living, the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said that recently he mentioned that the allgroups index of wholesale prices had remained at the same level, namely 995 points. These figures were questioned and suggestions were made that recourse to the food groups index figures would reveal that instead of prices having remained stable, there had been a decided increase in costs. The full table was now available and it showed the retail prices index fell by 1 per cent during September from 1060 to 1059 points, as compared with the previous month. This fall was caused by a fall of 36 .points in the dairy produce group, particularly in retail prices for eggs and in some towns for milk. The statistics showed there had been an increase of 9 points in groceries and 19 points in meat groups. So far as the meat group was concerned the rise was seasonal and authority to increase prices had been granted by the Price Investigation Tribunal to meet the increased costs of supplies at the various markets. So far as the increases in the index for groceries were concerned, it should be remembered, added Mr. Sullivan, that prices for many commodities that were imported had risen due to the crisis preceding the outbreak of war and to the situation created by the war. Control of Prices The Government could not control these factors, but it could control the extent to which prices were permitted to rise. This was being very efficiently done by the Price Investigation Tribunal which was holding the balance true between all sections of the community. “I want to make it clear that the price stablisiation regulations make it an offence to raise the level of prices beyond those ruling on September 1 last, without the specific permission of the tribunal,” said Mr. Sullivan. “This applied to the retailer as well as the wholesaler, and it should clearly be understood that applications for permission to raise prices must be made. The tribunal will expedite replies to requests and will telegraph the necessary authority where the circumstances make this method essential. “Effective control of prices must be maintained and the operations of the tribunal have had the effect of keeping unavoidable increases within reasonable limits. To facilitate the completion of granting permission or otherwise, the tribunal has decided, in several instances, to recognise representations from trade groups or organisations, such as the Drapers’ Federation, Grocers’ Federation and other bodies as being applicable to the entire trade. This has .speeded up the work. “Another system adopted has been that of permitting applications to be made to district officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin.”