EXPLOITING THE PUBLIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 82, 1 September 1914, Page 2

EXPLOITING THE PUBLIC.

uuv-!<:iLV\iEVi: action

lu the House of representatives on Wednesday Air. u. A. Wilkinson (I'.ginont) saiu there was no doiiibi Unit iJiio public of .Sew Zealand had to swme extent bruit exploited by unscrupulous traders, lie coaiplinienxed tlie Uovernnient on passing the licgulation of 'Jrade and Commerce Act, and declared lum.s'.ll delighted that a commission 01 impiiry wan to be. wi up to correct abuses that existed at the present time. He did nut .say that this applied' to traders throughout .Sew Zealand. The Auckland Sugar (.Vmpany, lor jn.sr.ince. hougii it pi.iet:;.:it;ly comrolk'd sii:>pnes, had not raised prices. A 'majority of the retailers, nevertheless, r.ad advanced the pr.co of isugaT. The Vacuum Oil Company had also abstained from raising prices. The Government would bo just-wed in taking very drastic steps to regulate the price of Hour and bread. If necessary, tile nulls should be taken over. In time of war cm; of the lirst duties of a Government was to feed the people under, its care. Wholesale druggists were amongst the traders who iiad been exploiting tUe public. They had put up prices to a phenomenal extent. Air. Wilkinson wild lie thought it quite possible for tlho New Zealand tioveninient to arrange with the dill'erent dairy factories to take over tin- whole "output anil oll'er it to the British authorities at a •standard price. The Prime Miniver (Hon. W. F. Aluasey) agreed that, tliey should have fair trade and fair prices. He Imd at one. time thought that the mere passing of the Act would be sufficient to pruveut exploitation mf tin- pulblie. He was sorry to learn that that was 'not altogether so, but lie ln-lic-ved Dliat the complaints applied to wry few tradesmen. The Government would do what it could. Wheat, Hour, and meat would be the first articles dealt with by the proposed 'Commiission.

.Mr. Davy: Will the Commission travel round Hie country? 'Mr. Masscy: Yes, and ■take evidence. Mi- Davcy: It will take a long time to get (he result that way. <M>r. Masscy h aid: that 'there was no occasion for pessimism; he locked forward optimistically to the future. All that was wanted: was confidence on the part of the people. He .believed, tlr.it our exports for next season would equal last season's. Mr. Massey added that t'he Workers' Homes ' undortabiugs would be gone on villi, notwitlhstamling the present crisis.—me Dominion.