ANTI-PROFITEERING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2113, 10 April 1920, Page 3

ANTI-PROFITEERING.

WHAT Ti lid TUI PCX ALG 1)0

Their are four committees or tribunals sill ill" siimilliuieousiy in Auckland, "Wellington, Chrislchurcii, and Dunedin, hearing complaints o!

excessive prices and investigating them. The proceeding.-- of such lr.iuuiuls in England arc open to the public, and arc also reportable in the press. Il is not so in Xew Zealand, for under seclioii “1 of the Hoard id Trade Acl. 1!)JD, “Kvery such in(juii'V shall lie held in private. foilseipieutly the public in New Zealand is not made aware of what the tribunals in the four cities are doing. Of course, under Ihe section of the Board of Trade 1 Act ipioted above, the board has “the right of publication expressly conferred ’ upon it, and possibly somethin" may be published in due course (additional to the hoard's annual report) showing what the board and the tribunals are doing'.

From Air (A M. Luke, chairman 01. the Welling!on Committee or Tribunal (speaking unofficially) it was learned by The I’ost that on that body receiving any complaint in writing or verbally the matter is exhaustively gone into, and the retailer concerned is communicated with, and, in all eases, bis wholesale supplier also, if, in the opinhrii of (he Tribunal, and after lull investigation, the person or persons ugainst whom a charge Ims been made desire to appear before it, then an opportunity of doing so is aitorded. In (heir own interests they may be (-ailed upon to be present. As to the meetings of the committees being open to the press, as in England, Mr Luke has not. thought it desirable, mainly in the interests of the people who may bring complaints. They would perhaps be reluctant to do so if the proceedings were made public. It Ims been thought best (rightly or wrongly ) m the interests of the people to hold We iiif|uiries in private. Xo notice was

taken of anonymous connmnncalions. People who write must sign their names and give their address. Of course, all communications are regarded as strictly confidential.