WAR PROFITS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 35, 16 May 1916, Page 3

WAR PROFITS.

PRICES OF LIQUOR. PLAIN TALK BY AN INTERESTED M.P. "I ain going to refer to another commodity, and that is liquor," said Mr J. Vigor Brown, member for .Napier, in the House of Representatives. Several members had been dlsenssi'ng, the high cost of living and the operations of commercial trusts and combines, "I may as well brine; this forward,'" added Mr Brown, "since 1 am 'in the business. 1 am never ashamed of anything I am connected with, and 'if there is anything wrong £ will bring 'it forward whether it affects my poeikot or not." "There is a liquor merchants' association in Wellington composed of 'a number of very wealthy firms." i A member : Trade secrets ?

Mr Brown: "There is no trade secret about this. I want the Government to make enquiries into this matter. The war broke out early in August, 1914, and on September 27, 1914, this association in Wellington sent to a firm this telegram: "Ad vance Hennessey's 7s (id.' Now,| Hennessey's had never raised their | prices at all, and did not do so until February IG, 1916, when they had to. They took no advantage of the war. I am not advertising Hennessey's here, but I am advertising what some of these.merchants have done to get prothat if they get advieeVthrft the ipi'ice lias gone up they should .make an''advance here, but when': tliere/'isirj'o increase.'in the tost ttliOj merchants have 119 right to raise prices,.;and 1 ;think ( these men should be imftlc-to disgorge that profit. .. . 1 " "Under""the 1 instructions contained in that telegram the price of Gilbey's was'raised by 2s Gd, when the proper rise' should have been Is. Burned's should have been . raided Gd up to July, 1915, but the increase made was 2s Gd. Geneva, the cost of which was increased by Is in December, 1915, was put up.by a modest ss. In regard to Hedele's cordial, a teetotal drink, Is Gd was added without any ; increase having been made in the cost price. Ginger wine- went up 2s Gd 'So far as our merchants were coneernj ed, but there was no increase, at 'Homo at all.: Champagne had been raised at', Home sonic time beforci and wai Uftfc udvanced 'fit tlie time of the n ] c „f tjwar, but it was. put up ' hy Irtss' by oui] .merchants." ■,' %fv: T/,i;Wwn kaid that' one Wrh lfc.id •beQa'losV;i , . t l','M' 1 "erchiintK- to .put |itp its price for' De ".'s

whisky W- 3s !a: case. The man-.g'tig director refhseid todo it, saying that uniil the price'was raised by the manufacturers lie would hot raise the :price to New Zealaild people. The result was a visit from an agent, who said that unless the firm agreed to follow the lead of the other companies the agency would be withdrawn. The reply was: "T.ike the agency away as soon as you like. No war profits are to be made by this 'firttl. We will not be robbers." Mr Brown quoted from a letter written to Messrs Dewar and Son drawing attention to this matter. "We are nat going to make any money out of the war," said the firm. "We feel that any concern which is lo'w : fenough to do such a thing Ought to; f be in Germany." "It seems to me," added Mr BroWn, 'that everybody is being allowed to plunder everybody else while this war is on." '