ANTI-PROFITEERING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1920, Page 1

ANTI-PROFITEERING BILL

DRASTIC PROPOSALS IN N.S, WALES.

SYDNEY, Sept. 21

Tlie draft of the Profiteering Prevention Bill, which has been made public, indicates that the new Labour Government of Neiv South Wales is prepared to take most drastic steps to prevent the undue inflation of prices by traders and speculators. The Bill it is thought will he presented to Parliament this week.

It should be explained, perhaps, that prices arc already controlled in New South Wales by the Necessary Commodities Control Act, which is administered by a Commission appointed by the old Nationalist Government. Most of the commodities in common use are fixed by this body. The Commission and the Labour Government have quarrelled. The Commission recently increased the retail price of butter by 3)d per lb to 2s lO.jd. The Premier promptly accused the Commission of being influenced by the powerful interests which are buying and exporting butter, and announced that the Government would bring in a Bill which would wipe out the Commission, and put a new and different system in its place. This is the Bill which is now announced.

It is proposed to use the machinery of the Board of Trade to exercise the new control of prices. The President of the Board is also to he president of a “Profiteering Prevention Court,” which is to declare what are necessary commodities, to fix the price of these commodities, and order all sorts and conditions of enquiries to be held into matters affecting prices, and nominate the persons to make such enquiries. The Court, it appears, is to have practically unlimited powers in ordering traders and corporations to do or not to do certain things. If any trader or corporation comes under suspicion of having made a, profit out of a necessary commodity in excess of what lias been: laid down as a fair and reasonable profit, such trader may he haled before the Court, forced to produce all books and documents hearing on the matter, and may, if found guilty, be heavily fined, or even ordered a term if imprisonment. Necessary commodities aro to include such sendees as the supply of gas and water, the callage of goods, ferries refrigeration, •old storage and funerals.

Special provision is made to prevent the “cornering” of goods, and necessary commodities may not, under heavy oenalties he with-held from sale. If a trader has a commodity in stock, any person may demand that a reasonable quantity of such commodity be sold to him.

Power is given to ensure that, before export is permitted, there shall he a sufficient supply of the commodity for home consumption at a reasonable orice. The president of the Profiteering Prevention Court has power to do ilmost anything he wishes. He may order goods to be seized and sold: compel traders to show tho cost price of goods exhibited for sale; may '■ofuse to be bound by rules of procedure oi evidence; may order the suppression of publication of evidence; and so on. The Bill is certain to be bitterlv fought in all its stages and is likely to have a difficult passage through the Legslative Council, which does not appear to have a Labour majority.