TO CHECK PROFITEERING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3412, 17 February 1920, Page 5

TO CHECK PROFITEERING.

LOCAL TRIBUNALS TO BE APPOINTED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. The Government has decided to establish local tribunals to investigate charges of profiteermg under the Board of Trade ‘Act passed by Parliament last year. Tribunals of the kind proposed are already in operation in Britain, where they .lla"v'e been able to assist the public and clear up many doubtful points. The names of members of local tribunals for cities will be announced shortly. In rnakiizg this statement Mr Massey added Hl3!’ each tribunal would consist of tln'e';.members. Any person co11si«lerir;:; himself or herself aggrieved by ‘he price of any commodity or article would be entitled to place the complaint before the tribunal and produce evidence. The tribunal would consider the case, examine the facts gener~ ally, and decide whether or not a prima facie case of rprofiteering bad been/iestablished. If it was thought there was profiteering it would refer the case to the Crown Prosecutor in the district. * The tribunals for Wellington and Auckland have been arranged. The" Board of Trade is visiting Christchurch, partly to arrange the personnel of the tribunal for that cit:v.—.