PROFITEERING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2027, 11 September 1919, Page 3

PROFITEERING.

BILL TO COMBAT EVIL. ‘ MEASURE BEFORE PARLIAMENT. v The Board of Tracle_Bill Avas introduced by Governor-General’s Message in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, and Avas read a first time. The measure provides for the set-ting-up of a Department of Industries and Commerce, to he charged with the administration of the Bill, and to consist of a Minister in charge, the Board of Trade, a secretary of industries and commerce, a secretary of the Board of Trade, and other officers as may be found necessary. The . functions of the Board of Trade are set forth as folloav; —(a) To obtain, by means of investigations and judicial inquiries, information as to the industries of New Zealand; (b) to publish Avith respect io those industries, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, such information as the Board deems of advantage to the public; (c) to procure by means of regulations the proper control, maintenance, and development-of such industries; (d) such other functions relative' to those industries as may he hnvfully conferred upon the Board. Wide poAvers arc given to the Board in regard to judicial inquiries, Avhich it may institute on its oavh motion, on a reference from i lie GoA r ernorGencral, or on the complaint of any pei'son, and which may be “into any matter Avha(soever relative to any industry carried on, or proposed to be carried on,.in New Zealand, or relative to any industry wherever carried on Avhich may affect the industries of New' Zealand, for the purpose of obtaining information which may bo required for the due control, regulation, and maintenance of the industries of New Zealand; the due observance or amendment of the laws relative thereto; (he discovery of breaches of those laws; the prevention or suppression of monopolies, unfair competition, and other practices detriment:!Uto (be public welfare; (lie proper regulation in the public interest of the prices of goods and the rates of service; or for any other purpose relative to the industries of New Zealand.”

Power is given to the Board to summon witnesses nnd hoar evidence on oath, and wilful failure to comply with a summons or to give evidence is to he deemed to be contempt of an inferior court of justice. The giving of false evidence before the Board of Trade is to amount to perjury, and the.ple.a that his evidence might lend to criminate him in respect of any offence, other than an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment, is not to excuse any person from answering (|uesl.ions. The inquiries are not to he open to I lie public. Similar powers' are conferred on the Board in regard to its investigations, and if any default is made in obedience to any order of the Board in respect to its investigations, every person concerned is (o he liable, on summary conviction, to a line not exceeding £IOO. A similar penally, or in the alternative imprisonment, for a. term not exceeding three months, is laid down for every person who deceives or obstructs the Board in. the conduct of any investigations.

So far as publication is deemed Ijy it to bo expedient in the public inlci'csi, ij is made lawful for the Board to publish any informal ion obtained in the course of any Judicial inquiry or investigation, together with its commands thereon. Comprehensive powers in respect to (lie making’ of regulations are given to (he Governor-General in Council, but it is expressly provided that no Board of Trade regulation is to determine rates of wages. Offences against regulations are to he punishable upon conviction before a Magistrate by a fine not exceeding £2OO. or by imprisonment for it period not exceeding three months, and any prosecution may bo instituted at any time within five years of the offence. The Bill provides an alternative procedure, under which the penalty may he increased to £I,OOO. The clauses dealing with profiteering provide that every person who sells or supplies goods at a price producing more than a fair and reasonable rale of commercial profit, or who hoards and refuses to sell goods, so as to raise the cost of; other similar goods to flu 1 public, is to be liable to a line not exceeding £2OO, or imprisonment not exceeding three months in the case of an individual, or to a fine not exceeding C 1,00() in the ease of a body'corporate.