WATCHING PRICES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1921, Page 1

WATCHING PRICES

WELLINGTON, July 15

The Department of Industries and Commerce states that its officers hrough out New Zealand were keeping a close watch on the movement of prices. Since the disbanding of the tribunals there has been a decline in the number of com plaints received in Christchurch and Dunedin about alleged unreasonable prices charged for certain necessaries, but there lias been no appreciable decrease in the number of complaints received in Wellington and Auckland people in these centres taking advantage of the facilties offered for investigation of prices which are alleged to be unreasonably high.

Though there has been lately an upward movement in the wholesale price of stock, this rise is not generally reflected in retail rates. Meat can he purchased at most, places at prices recently arranged by the Department. Slight readjustments have been made in Auckland. but no increase has been permitted anywhere unless the Department was satisfied that such increase was reasonable. A fact emphasised by the Department is that in most centres the public have opportunities to buy meat at auction. Even in tbc smaller towns the prices of meat are being keenly watched.

The public has Ivenefited by the Departmental action in regard to bread. ’Phe attention of the public is drawn to the fact that in March last there was a general increase in the price of flour necessitating a readjustment of bread prices throughout the Dominion. This change was effected by regulations under the Board of Trade Act. which made provision for basic prices in the North and South Islands. Power was vested in the Department to make adjustments in the smaller centres and country distrivts, according to circumstances. The Department’s officers have closely examined the costs of production and delivery of bread in a large number of towns, and the prices of bread for cash over the counter, cash on delivery, <>! I looked and elivored, have been fixed after careful consideration of all the facts. This work has required a large number of investigations, as prices have had to be adjusted in more than a hundred localities throughout the Domiii-

As a result of the recent increase in freight rates for coal from the West Const to Wellington, the Department has taken care to see that the rise in price to the public docs not exceed tbc amount of the freight increase. A downward movement has also taken place in the charges made for hoot repairs.