DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1920, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

FIRE AT CHRISTOHUROH. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Christchurch, July 29. A Are occurred early this morning at the Woolston Tanneries warehouse in the centre of the city. The damage to the building is estimated at £SOO, and to the stock and contents at £SOOO. The loss is covered by a big insurance. The building is owned by W. H. firth, of Oamaru. BOARD OF TRADE CRITICISED. Auckland, July 29. Certain amendments to the Board of Trade Act, passed last year, also the resolutions adopted recently by the Christchurch traders, were approved at a meeting of wholesale and retail traders, on the ground that the Act was inequitable and unjust to the traders of the Dominion, and tended to create an unwarranted suspicion that the public was being exploited by traders, which was entirely contrary to the fact; that the Government was aware that high prices were not due to high profits, but to the economic conditions created by the war; that no Act can be equitable that dpes not recognise the custom and usage of the trade; that no Cour can judge what is a reasonable profit without knowing the circumstances in which such profit is assessed; that the only equitable method of assessing profit was on the market or replacement value; that the operation of the Act will tend to destroy all incentive to business, and the development of trade, to the detriment of the revenue of the Dominion and the advancement of industries and commerce. A sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements for delegates to attend the conference of traders in Wellington dur...ig the sitting of Parliament.