FOODSTUFFS COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 267, 21 April 1915, Page 3

FOODSTUFFS COMMISSION.

ALLEGED EXPLOITATION. STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. As a result of negotiations between the Premier and Mr. Justice Stringer, chairman of the Foodstuffs Commission, I the latter has agreed to arrange if possible an early sitting of the Commission to investigate the alleged case of exploitation. ITn a letter to the Premier Mr. Justice Stringer says the Commission invitetf members of the public to formulate any charges of exploitation within their knowledge in order that inquiries might lie made, but no such charges had been brought under his notice. The letter concluded: "The Commission have already reported so far as imported foodstuffs are concerned, and inquiries have satisfied tlieni that no exploitation has taken place with regard to foodstuffs produced in the Dominion. The increased prices for these articles ruling locally, according to evidence brought before the Commission, are in sympathy with and are the direct natural consequences of the increased prices being paid for export purposes. If this is so, then unless the Government impose some restrictions upon the export of these articles, which seems quite impracticable, it seems difficult to see how the public can escape the payment of the higher prices."