ALLEGED PROFITEERING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1919, Page 4

ALLEGED PROFITEERING

CHARGE AGAINST WELLINGTON DRAPERS. By Telegraph.—Pre»» Association. Welliqgtoq, Last Night, The first case of the kind in New Zealand was heard at the Magistrate's Courl| to-day. George and Kersley, the well« known drapery firm,'were charged by the Board of Trade with profiteering, name* ly: "That they did sell certain goods, to wit, two yard* of flannel, known as No. 6- Shetland flannel, at 3s 3d per yard, a price which is unreasonably high, the opportunity of obtaining such a price in New Zealand having arisen by reason of the scarcity of suck goods in New Zealand, caused by war conditions." The evidence for the Crown elicited the fact that it was the general rnle In the drapery trade in fixing prices to give an average return of 33 per cent, on the .turnover, which would be about 60 per cent, pn the cost; but there was no .uniformity, and in tome lines the profit was much smaller. In opening for the defence, Sir J. Tindlay said the Court was asked to view the profit on one. article. If every article in the shep was to be taken be crushed. The Aot was never intended te apply to a. case of this kind. It'was aimed at monopoly. ■ •■ The case Was adjourned till Monday afternoon. ii." '•