COST OF LIVING

Southland Times, Issue 18818, 11 May 1920, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

AUCKLAND WOMEN'S PROTEST,

UNDERTAKING NOT TO BUY.

(Per United Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, May 10

A meeting of women convened by the Civic League and the civic circle of the Women’s Club was held to-night to consider the cost of living. The meeting carried declarations of protest against the continuance of the high cost of living, particularly drapery and clothing generally, and in furtherance of the protest undertook not to buy the following articles for a period of six months: —Crepe-de-chene and georgette underclothing irrespective of price; gloves irrespective of price; stockings costing more than 8s 6d per pair; costumes costing more than £lO 10s; hats £2 10s; blouses £2, and boots and shoes £2 ss. It was resolved to request the managers of the Technical College to establish classes in boot repairing. Further resolutions urged that two women be appointed to the Board of Trade forthwith; that the names of those found guilty by the Board of Trade Anti-Profiteer-ing Tribunal be published and the offenders punished; and also that the Government take steps to secure for the public supplies of woollen goods at reasonable prices, so reducing the enormous difference between the price paid to the farmers for wool and price of manufactured goods. The undertaking not to purchase goods was signed by about sixty women in a few minutes.

THE CHRISTCHURCH- PROSECUTIONS.

(Special to the Times.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. Charges against five hardware firms under the anti-profiteering clauses of the Board of Trade Act have been laid by the Board of Trade at the instance of the Canterbury Prices Investigation Tribunal. The cases, which will be heard in the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, are arousing considerable interest in trading circles, for they are likely to be fought largely on the question of whether firms in selling goods may take into consideration the cost of replacement. The actual charges have been made in respect to the sale of a standard line of alarm clocks. Four of the firms concerned were drawn into the matter in a rather peculiar way. A complaint was made by a private individual to the tribunal that a certain retail hardware merchant said a standard line of alarm clocks at rates 5s higher than another m an. The tribunal after investigation decided that the profit by the first man was excessive, being apparently based on what would soon be the importing cost. In order, however, to verify its information, the tribunal made inquiries and investigated the books of other hardware concerns, three of whom conduct retail departments in connection with their wholesale business. The result was that these firms were believed to be selling at the higher price and have also been charged.