BOARD OF TRADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 April 1917, Page 5

BOARD OF TRADE.

REGULATING PRICES.

(Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 13

The members of the Board of Trade have returned from their northern trip with a very creditable report of what has been accomplished in the way of regulating the prices of meat in Auckland and in some of the provincial towns. The establishment of State meat depots has had an appreciable effect on both wholesale and retail prices in the <T Queen City” and instead of ruining the private butchers has induced them to adopt better business methods. Th e depots are supplying over 2000 customers daily and their trade is rapidly increasing. The Board has also effected agreements with th e retail butchers in Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North and Masterton, and in each of these towns has been able to check contemplated advances in prices. Its methods seem to be giving general satisfaction and the regulations it has issued under the authority of the Minister are evidently curbing the desire of interested parties to play fast and loose with the intentions of the Legislature as was dene in the case of th e regulations formed during the early days of the war. Of course, the Board cannot reverse the operation of ail the inexorable laws of economics, but it certainly has done something towards

ensuring the community against their distortion and unfair application.