THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1916, Page 10

THE COST OF LIVING.

1 -»■ . BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY. OPENED AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The members of the Board of Trade (Messrs. W. G. McDonald, J. R. Hart and I'. Hally), with the secretary (Mr. J. W. Collins), arrived in New Plymouth on Monday evening. The local sittings were opened at the Courtroom yesterday morning. The board is conducting investigations throughout the Dominion into the causes of the rising cost of living and into complaints of alleged infringements of the Commercal Trusts Act, which has now been extended to apply to "any article of food for human consumption and ingredients used in the manufacture of any such article." In a statement to the press, the acting chairman (Mr. W. G. McDonald) said he would like to call public attention to the fact that under the Cost of Living Act the public had a good deal of power in its own hands by setting the machinery of the Board of Trade in motion. "Anybody who knows, for instance, of any infringements of the Commercial Trusts Act, i.e., that there has been or is combination of traders to corner supplies or arbitrarily to raise prices, may communicate with the board's secretary, and if, after investigation, a prima facie case is made out, the Attorney-General will take action." In regard to the present inquiry, the board intends, whilst in New Plymouth, covering the main commodities of life, and will take evidence from expert witnesses dealing in foodstuffs and clothing, as well as coal, rents, etc. The board may also inspect books and accounts. In connection with the high rent of houses here, which is said to be second highest in the Dominion, being only exceeded by Wellington, it is probable that the members of the Board may personally inspect several houses in different localities for the purpose of comparison with the rent of other houses in other parts of the Dominion. The witnesses coming before the board yesterday were telegraphed to from Wanganui, but the members will welcome evidence from the general public. It was decided to hold the sittings in camera, 'the reason being that the board has to decide on the reasonableness of profits, and where a question of a man's private business is involved it is not considered fair that it should be discussed in public. Yesterday the following witnesses .ere examined on oath, Messrs. 0. W. Sole, master butcher, re meat prices; James Clarke (of Gilmour and Clarke), land agent, re rents; W. E. Bendall, coal merchant, re coal and wood prices; H. Goodacre, boot manufacturer, re boots and shoes; E. May, baker and confectioner, and H. Baily, accountant, re bread prices, and Messrs S. G. Smith, Girling, and Ford, representatives of various unions of workers, and other associations. Further evidence will be taken at the Court house to-day. It is probable that the members of the Board of Trade will remain in New Plymouth until the end of the week. Tomorrow morning they will meet the local Chamber of Commerce in conference at the Court house in order to discuss post-war trade problems with enemy countries. A commission from Excellency the Governor has been issued to the members of the board in this connection, and it is hoped in visiting the various towns throughout the Dominion to obtain valuable help fro'n the Chambers.