Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1920. PROFITEERING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2155, 27 July 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1920. PROFITEERING.

AT Inst night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce a general discussion took place on alleged profiteering, and, incidentally, the Government came in for some severe criticism for its inability to lay the real profiteers by the heel. It was pointed out that the investigations made into alleged excessive prices charged by the retailers and small tradesmen by the Investigation Board were insignificant as compared with the profiteering alleged to be' taking place by the men higher up. One 'speaker alleged that thousands of pounds were being made by certain tanneries, whereas the prich of raw hide was almost down to pre-war prices. This was one of the causes of exorbitant prices for footwear. The same was alleged in connection with woollen goods. The mills were raking in the shekels, and the masses w T ere being exploited. It was urged that the Government should first deal with the manufacturer, and then (urn its attention to the retailer. One member said it was useless for the Chamber to make its protest on these matters to the Government, and suggested that a resolution should be forwarded to the Leader of the Labour Party. However, lids was withdrawn in favour of conveying the Chamber’s views on profiteering and exploitation to the member for the district.