PRICE CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1939, Page 5

PRICE CONTROL

■» GOVERNMENT READY TO ACT IP NECESSARY. IN PREVENTING UNREASONABLE INCREASES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 21. The Government’s attitude to profiteering was made clear by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon D. G. Sullivan, in a statement this morning. He said that so far not many unreasonable price increases had been reported. “However,” he added, “should there be manifested a disposition to exploit the public the machinery which has already been prepared to deal with the position will be put into immediate operation. No new legislation is required; ample power exists, and the Government can do anything it thinks necessary by Order in Council. “A number of countries, some of them within the Empire, have had to take more drastic steps to prevent exploitation of the public than New Zealand has taken, and those countries are not administered by Labour Go- | vernments. “Some people who have voiced criticism through the newspapers seem to be under the impression that it is not permissible to increase prices at all, consequently the fact that there have been some increases indicates to them a breakdown of the Government’s plans. They do not realise the real situation. The legislation that we have been working under the Profiteering Act of 1936 is directed up to the present time against ‘unreasonable’ increases, the term unreasonable being defined by Statute. “If an attempt is made to exploit the community it may be necessary for the Government to take the same steps as those taken by some other countries, and before any person can increase a price compel him to justify such increase before a tribunal. “I do not desire to take that step, but it will be taken if the position warrants it. I feel sure that the majority of business people will play the game. The only danger is a few who by an unreasonable and selfish attitude may create difficulties for the great mass of fair-minded business people."