MONOPOLIES AND TRUSTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8140, 15 May 1906, Page 6

MONOPOLIES AND TRUSTS.

+ SETTING! UP A BOARD OP ENQUIRY, Tbe first stop towards t'tw appointment of au Agricultural impletneuf. Enquiry Board ia beJug taken by tbe Labour Department. Circulars have been issued to the various Trades and Labour Councils ana Agricultural and Pastoral Associations in tbo colony asking tbom to nominate some persons tor eleotion to tbe Board. When tbe nominations are in a final selection will be made by the bodies interested, and tbe appofritmeat will then be formally made by the Governor. The Act sets out that the Board is to consist of:—Tbe President of tbe Arbitration Court, wbo eball be chairman; the President tor the time being of tbe Farmers 1 Union; the President of the Industrial Association of Canterbury; some person appointed by tbe Government on the recommendations of the Trades nod Labour Councils; and some person appointed by the Government on tbe recommendation of the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations. Tbe Act also provides that reports by tbe Board are to be made to a commissioner (tbe Commissioner of Trades and Customs). The third clause of tbe Aot provides that tbe commissioner should compile a statement showing tbe description of implements mentioned in tbe

schedule, the nature and quality of material used iu their construction, and the prices current on the passing of the Act.

On complaint to the commissioner by any two or more manufacturers in New Zealand that the price of any implement on importation bad been materially reduced, and that competition on unfair lines was being carried on by importers of implements from foreign countries, he was to summon the board and refer the complaint to it for report. The Act is to continue in force until August let of this year, 4, 0u which dale it shall be deemed to be repealed." Questioned about the appointment of the Board, Mr Tregear, of the Labour Department, said uo complaints of the oharaoter aimed at by the Act have been received by him so far. The present procedure is being taken in case of emergency.