The Cost of Living

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 May 1915, Page 2

The Cost of Living

In ail article on tie above subject, the Cliristcliurch Star remarks, editorally :— "Fairbairn Wins Again" is an item in the news pages. Fairbairn, Wriglit aud Co. have fought a series of battles ancl have won each of them in turn. The capitulation of Levin and 00. is the latest and perhaps the most significant. The principle has been definitely established that where combination in restraint of trade has been proved, as in the case against Levin and Co., the plaintiff is entitled to damages quite apart from the steps taken by the Public Prosecutor for conspiracy. Mr Fairbairn deserves the thanks of the community for the pertinacious way in which he has fought this battle against exploitation, this fact deserves to be well beaten into the public skull, that whereas only alvoiit £6000 has been retrieved from the Merchant's Association and its satellites as the result of immoral trading their profits out ot the various transactions exposed as the result of the public-spirited pertinacity of Mr Fairbairn amounted to close upon £40,000! And when Mr Massey was asked in Parliament if there was to be any further prosecutions of firms proved in evidence to have broken the law, the Prime Minister replied that as these people wwe now obeying the law nothing further would be done. Which shows the advantage of having an influential friend 1 at Court! But Mr Fairbairn seems to think that exploitation still continues. He is prepared to prove it, but the Foods Commission does not want to hear him, although on the commission is a member of a firm which was a subscriber to the Merchants' Association "when | the original prosecution of that association took place, and who would naturally be very interested in anything this witness might say. The commission does not want to hear Mr Fairbairn, who is prepared to swear to. exploitation. Yet the chairman of the commission (who has not even had the courtesy to answer this witness's letters offering to give proof) has reported to Mr Massey that there has been no lexploitation! "Well, we most leave it at that.