REPLACEMENT COST.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 5

REPLACEMENT COST.

DESTROYS PROFITEERING CHARGE. CASES WITHDRAWN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Nine charges of profiteering against three local firms and one Lyttelton firm were called at the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. McCarthy, S.M. The informant was the secretary of the Board of Trade, and the defendants were Aitcheson, Steans Co., general merchants, Christchurch; Benjamins, Ltd,, merchants, Christchurch; Bernard Darby, trading as Wallace and Co., chemists, Christchurch; and Forbes, Ltd., Lyttelton. Mr. A. T. Donnelly appeared for the informant.

The first charge against Aitcheson, Steans Co., was that they did sell 1000 Clarence cigarettes at a price of £3 2s 2d per thousand, which was unreasonably high, contrary to the Statute. Similar charges were laid in respect of Clarence cigarettes sold by the same firm.

Benjamins, Ltd., were charged with selling 1000 Clarence cigarettes at an unreasonably high price of £3 2s 2d per thousand.

The charge against Forbes, Ltd., was that they offered to sell rabbit.traps at 37s per dozen, which was unreasonably high. Darby was charged with having sold half a gallon of borol at a price unreasonably high, viz., £2 ss.

Mr. Donnelly said that as far as the charges against Aitcheson Steans, Benjamins, and Forbes were concerned it would be impossible to contend that an unreasonable profit had been made, taking the replacement cost into account. As his Worship had decided in the. alarm clock cases that the cost of replacement was to he taken into account, and as this decision had been upheld by the. "Full Court, it would be idle to proceed with the cases. In consequence counsel asked that, these cases be withdrawn.

As far as the, charge against Darby was concerned, however, counsel said it was on a different footing. It was proposed to go on with this case, and counsel asked for an adjournment.

The application was granted, the re. roainder of the eases being withdrawn.