PROFITEERING

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1920, Page 2

PROFITEERING

STATEMENT BY PREMIER

[per peess association.—corTiiicnT.)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. The Prime Minister has authorised the following statement regarding the operation of auti-Profiteering clauses of the Board;' of Trade Act passed last session : Since the passing of that Act, the method of organisation for its enforcement, to deal with cases of profiteering has been very fully considered from all points of view. Section 32 provides that every person commits an offence who either, as principal or agent, sells or supplies or offers for sale or supply goods at a price which is unreasonably high; and that the price of any goods shall be deemed to be unreasonably high; and that the price of any goods shall be deemed to be unreasonably high if it produces, or is calculated to produce, more than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit to the person selling, or supplying, or offering to sell or supply those goods, or to his principal.

This section also makes it an offence to hoard, or to refuse to sell goods, if the hoarding or refusal tends, to raise the cost of other similar goods to the public.

Various methods for the enforcement of this section have been considered by the Board of Trade, and, in particular, the establishment of Tribunals similar to those set up under the English Profiteering Act. There are, however, objections to entrusting the preliminary; investigation authorised by the New Zealand A-et either to Local Committees or to Local Governing Bodies. It may he found necessary, at a later date, to appoint special officers in each Provincial District to enable the Board of Trade to fully perform the duties entrusted to it by parliament.

For the present, and in. order to p*~ vide for immediate requirements, an arangement has been made by which Inspectors and Officials of the Labour Department will co-operate with the Board of Trade.

Any member of the public who has evidence that an offence against the Statutory prohibition of excess profits has been committed, should communicate with the, nearest official of the Department of Labour. That official will forward particulars of the complaint to the Board of Trade under whose direction this .matter will be fully investigated. If it he found that there is proof of commission of an offence, proceedings against the offender will be taken under the direction of the Board of Trade, every prosecution being conducted by the Crown Solicitor of the District. It is the intention of the Government 'to rigidly enforce the provisions of the Act. The right of any individual aggrieved himself to take proceedings is not interferred with. That right is, however, in all cases limited by a Statutory requirement that no prosecution under the Act may he instituted without the previous con. sent of the Board of Trade.