CONSUMERS’ COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1930, Page 5

CONSUMERS’ COUNCIL

TEXT OF THE BILL.

(Official Wireless.)

(Received this day at 10 a.m.) RUGBY, May 1. The text is issued of a Government Bill for the creation of a. Consumers Council. The council is to consist of 7 members of whom 2 at least must be women, but additional members may be appointed by the Board of Trade' for any particular enquiry." The council will concern itself with articles of food of general consumption, wearing apparel, clothing material, fuels and any other articles of common use which the Board of Trade may require it to in'quire into.' The council is empowered to examine anyone on oath, call for a written statement and examine hooks, accounts .and other documents.

Where the council report an excessive price is being charged' it may set out what it considers the proper price, and recommend the Board of Trade to make an order for the purpose of securing compliance. Upon the issue of such, order by the Board of Trade contraveners will be liable to penalties of £5 in the case of a first offence or not exceeding £lO or thre enionths imprisonment or both together, for subsequent offences. The Board of Trade order may not only govern the actual selling, wholesale or retail price, but also the brokerage or commission rate. The creation of a single colonial Service is recommended in the report of the Committee, which has been considering .appointments in the Colonial Office, and a colonial service committee was appointed last year by Mr Amery, ■ Colonial Secretary, in the Conservative Government with Sir Warren Fisher as Chairman.

For some time past it has been considered certain changes were necessary owing to the growth of the British Dependencies towards the new status of the. Dominions as established at the lqst Imperial Conference. It was found that under the' growing system of independence, there were now many anom-. alies. The Colonial Office itself for example has become a dual department ; tliat is, the Colonial Office pro per and the Dominions Office. The .report deals with territories handled by the Colonial Office. These comprice 50 different territories covering more than 2,000,000 square miles wit ha total population of 50,000,000 people of varied nationalities and religions. • The- expenditure of the Colonial Government alone has risen from £19.000,000 in 1909 to £68,000,000 in 1929. The governmental staff has increased from 93,208 to 220,770. Recommending the creation of a single colonial service the committee urges that special services, such as agriculture," medicine and education should be organised within this single service.

With regard to appointments now made through the machinery of the private Secretary to the Secretary of State, it is recommended that the final collection of candidates should he made by Col’onial Services Appointments Board, which should be set up consisting of a Chairman and two members nominated by the Civil Service Commission.

With reference to the election o f governors, the committee recommends prior consideration should be given' to the suitability of officers'holding high offices in the Colonial, service.

The committee produces figures which serve to . show there is no, real ground for suggestion that'-'the olde.r Universes have anything like a monopoly o f Colonial honointments.'