PROFITEERING CHARGES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1920, Page 4

PROFITEERING CHARGES.

AN AUCKLAND BOOT FIRM PROSECUTED. AUCKLAND, July 10

Out of many complaints of profiteering in Auckland, tbe first actual prosecution to emerge came before Mr Wilson, S.M., to-day, when a prominent firm of boot and shoe merchants, Dudleys, Ltd., was charged with having sold on April Ist last, a pair of ladies’ suede shoes at an unreasonably high price. Mr Hunt (instructed by the Crown Prosecutor) appeared for the informant, the secretary of the Auckland Price Investigation Tribunal, and Mr R. lleVcagh conducted the defence.

In opening his ease, Air Hunt stated that the case bad been brought because the Board of Trade had deemed it expedient that the defendant company should be prosecuted. To show that the Board of Trade had not entered lightly into the prosecution, counsel stated that the Price Investigation Tribunal started operations in Auckland only in March last, and up to Juno 17t.h of last month it had received and had investigated 165 complaints of profiteering. and so far in only three cases had' it asked the Board of Trade to prosecute. So far the Board had sanctioned a prosecution in only one case—this one— bud. no doubt others would be authorised. That indicated that the matter hard not been lightly entered into. The complaint made in this ease was that the defendant company sold a pair of ladies’ black suede court shoes, including the price of a pair of buckles, for £3 11s 3d. The company explained that the price was £3 7s (kl for the siloes, and 3s 9d for the buckles. The company stated that the shoes were purchased from the firm of W. A. Grant, LtcL, in Sydney, the gross price paid in Sydney being 3s a pair. Off that the defendant company received a discount of 3] per cent., making the cost slightly under 28s lid per pair in Sydney. In reply to the Tribunal the defendant company gave the price as 30s in Sydney. Whatever the price in Sydney was, there had been added to it 8s 3d, stated by the company to he the recognised cost of landing at the shop in Auckland. A further addition was then made of 50 per cent on the gross cost (the cost in Sydney plus landing charge). The company then added 19s 2d, which was stated to lie provision for overhead charges, in ordei- to provide a price which would return 33J% That made £2 17s sd. In this case the company made additions of 4s 6d and os 7d, bringing the price to £3 7s (id. They explained that they added the 4s Od as a sum intended to cover the extra risk of dealing in a high grade article that might go out of fashion, and they added 5s 7d which tlie company claimed to be entitled to as tbe result of direct buying having given them an advantage or a four months’ old price. Counsel remarked that no doubt it would be urged that a portion of the extra profit as intended to meet a possible loss on tile stock m handling a high grade fashionable lino, which was subject to the whims of fashion, but the allowance here provided for the loss of one pair of shoes in every four. The balance-sheet of the defendant company’s last completed year of operations would be put in, and that showed a gross profit on actual sales of 30.27 per cent., or a net profit on actual trading for the year on the total paid-up capital of the defendant company was 75.92 per cent., and the net profit on the soling prices, after providing for everything, was 15.02%, or 3s on every £1 handled.

"A SOUTHERLY BUSTER." The cold sou’wester Howls and roars Along the barren Westland shores! Across the sea it ramps and raves, Cutting the tops from off the waves; And far inland it bears the spray, Which blights the green leaves in its way. Over the Sandy, fringing dunes— Across the swampy salt lagoons— The stinging sand is whirling sent, Till ’tnong the tussocks it is spent. What can withstand so great a shock! The trees P—They bend, and then they rock. The cabbage-trees, with .heads like mops, Are soon stript of their leafy tops. These are sent whirling round and round Before they’re blown along the ground. The “ Toi-tois” rustle in the breeze; And loudly 1 clack,’ the broad flax leaves. And all along the iron-sand beach, The creaming waves roll, leap and reach ; While you can hear, both near and far, The breakers thundering on the bar. The beach-comber is strong, tho’ old, And prepares to harvest the gold. “ We’ll soon have a run of black sand, “ For,” says he “ the weather is grand! ” And being both hearty and sturdy, Fie soon rigs up his “ hurdy-gurdy ” And after cleaning his copper-plates, With quick-silver amalgamates. * * * * * But still th’ cold sou’wester bowls and roars Along the gold-strewn Westland shores! THRO’ THE MILL. (Young Wombat Jack.—His Hake, of Defiance.)

With racing pulse and burning eyes I watched the stars fade in the skies; With throbbing head ana laboured breath, I grimly strove against old Death. Whilst lying in my folding cot, Weary, thirsty, and oh so hot!— Night after night fierce raged tho fight, Say! How I longed for morning’s light! The “ quacks ” began to give up hope,— —They squirted in the “ sleeping dope,” And thought that I bad reached my end; But lo ! I had a Mighty Friend! “ Christ Almighty, stand by me! O hear me when I pray to Thee.” Thus cried 1 loudly in my need— He heard my prayer and gave it heed! “O Lord, bow wondrous arc Thy ways! But who can sing sufficient praiseP Thou helped me, in extremity— Thou stayed me from Eternity.”— —Soon After. — In answer to an idle thought, —Would you face it again ? Eli ? What! Replied—the future knowing not—- “ Dinkum ! I’d just as soon be shot! ” —Later.— Blind fool! My troubles all came back. —Same anguished nights, and burning pain,— But am I not “Young Wombat Jack ?” You bet, I’ll face it all again! Till a “ Dinkum Die-hard ” too— One of a “ skiting slacker ” crew— But if you give the “Digs.” their due, You’ll say, “ those that' ‘renig.’ are few! ” *■ * # * * Christ is my Lord, and He knows best; E’en tho’ right now He “ called me West” ! Nor is there any cause for fear; What odds, so long as He is near! —Charles R. H. Parham, Bath War Hospital, England.