FLOUR AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2227, 2 November 1907, Page 2

FLOUR AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

TO PREVENT MONOPOLY. THE GOVERNMENT’S NEW BILL. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. The Flour and Oilier Products Monopoly Prevention Bill was introduced to-night. .The Bill provides that it shall be lawful for the Governor at any time oil the recommendation of the Committee of Arbitration to declare by Order-in-Council that on and after a day to be sjiecified flour imported into New Zealand shall be admitted free of duty. 'Any such Order-in-Council may be revoked by the Governor at any time as from a day to he specified, not being earlier than three months from the gazetting of the revocation. The Court of Arbitration may from time to time at the direction of the Governor make an inquiry as to whether the wholesale market jirice of flour in New Zealand is unreasonably high, and if the Court finds that such price is, or has at any time since the receipt of such direction from the Governor, been unreasonably high, it kliall recommend the Governor to exercise the powers conferred by this Act. These provisions shall also apply to wheat and potatoes in the same manner as to flour. DEFINITIONS OF UNREASONABLY HIGH.

For the purposes of the inquiries, tho prico of flour shall be deemed to

be unreasonably high (a) If the average price of flour in New Zealand is relatively to the price of wheat in New Zealand, higher than tho average price of flour in Australia relatively to the average price of wheat in Australia, unless in the opinion- of the Court of Arbitration the additional price in New Zealand is justified by the additional cost of production, or (b) If the average price of wheat in New Zealand has by reason of any combination among tho holders of stocks of wheat, or by reason of any complete or partial monopoly established by any such holders, been raised above tho price which would be determined by unrestricted competition. The prico of wheat shall he deemed to be unreasonably high if tho average wholesale price in New Zealand lias, by reason of any combination among the holders of'stocks or by reason of .any complete or partial monopoly established by any such holders, been .raised above tile price which would be determined by unrestricted competition.

The price of potatoes shall be deemed to be unreasonably high (a) If t.- s average wholesale price m New Zealand exceeds £7 per ton or (b) If t-li© average wholesale price in New Zealand has, by reason of any combination among the holders o) stocks or by reason of anv complete or partial monopoly established bv an.v such bolder, been raised above tho price which would be determined b.v un rent rioted competition.

HOW AVERAGE PRICES .MAY Hl* DETERMINED. The average price in New Zealand of any of the aforesaid articles shall lie determined by the said Court, for •' he purposes of this Act, by reference to the ordinary market price lor the time being in Dunedin, Tiinani. Christchurch. Wellington, and Auckland. Tile average juice ill Australia. of any of the aforesaid articles shall be likewise determined by reference to the ordinary market'price for the time being in Sydney and Melbourne. In making .any inquiry under the authority of this Act, the Court of Arbitration shall bo deemed to- be a commission within tin* Commissioners Act, 1903, and shall have all the powers conferred noon Commissioners by the Act, and shall bo subject to all the provisions of the Act accordingly in making anv such inquiry. The said Court may receive and act oil any evidence which it thinks fit, whether the same is legally admissablo in a Court of Law or not