BOARD OF TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1920, Page 3

BOARD OF TRADE.

DISTRIBUTION OF BENZINE.' PLAN TO CHECK PROFITEERING." By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March S. The Central Benzine Committee hold its first meeting . io consider ways ami. means of meeting the acute shortage If ■•«>:. .-.'.nnhle demands are made to the committee the supply will be ijUfliciellt. The Board of Trade has completed its organisation for an equitable distribution of sugar. The scheme provides that a retailer shall draw his supplies frpm one merchant only, and the merchants will meet and arrange between themselves as to the person from whom the supply shall in future be drawn, though previously the retailer dealt with more than one merchant. Now that the personnel of the committee to deal with profiteering has been announced complaints may be" lodged in the four centres. The Government wishes ft known that complaints may still be made through the agency of' the Labor Department or the secretaire ■ I, tribunal, or the secretary of the Board of Trade. The board has recently made an investigation into the increase in the price of cotton thread, and reports that the prices arc practically controlled from outside the Dominion. There is a central selling agency in Glasgow, with a branch in New Zealand, which is virtually the selling agency of the cottom combine. No direct or distinct profits are made by the New Zealand branch, since there is no question of purchase by it. The recent increase in the nrices was advised by cable from the central agency on February 1(1, and all orders for immediate delivery in the firm's hands before the receipt of the cable were executed at the old prices. Orders received since and orders for delivery after February lfi were filled at the new prices, which average an increase of about 25 per cent, on the main sellinc line of ordinary sewing cotton. On'2oo yard reels " u> '" was from 52s to 7Ss per gross, an inerease nf 50 per cent. The Board of Trade is considering the. qucstioj. . ' ■■■ increase in the prices of stocks in hand or held on the water fo " '' ; ' r "'""• Zealand. The Board is further investigating the prices of leather in Auckland in relation to the recent rise in the price of hides.