PRICE CONTROL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20822, 5 June 1939, Page 9

PRICE CONTROL

SCOPE OF REGULATIONS PENALTIES PROVIDED POSITION OF NEW BUSINESSES (By Telegraph—Pres* Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday An explanatory statement regarding the Board of Trade price investigation regulations was made by the Minister of industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. He said that these regulations followed upon the appointing by the Government of a price investigation tribunal, consisting of Mr Justice Hunter and Mr 11. L. Wise. “The regulations require all persons engaged in the business of selling any of the goods or classes specified in the schedule to the regulations to notify the tribunal in Wellington of any price increases after the day of enactment of the regulations and to give reasons for such higher prices,” said the Minister. “If the person fails to notify the tribunal accordingly a breach of the regulations is committed and the person is liable to the penalties prescribed by the Board of Trade Act for offences against the Board of Trade regulations, which render any offender liable to a fine of up to £IOOO or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months. New Businesses “Where a person commences to engage in business in any locality after the day of enactment of the regulations he is not permitted to sell or offer for sale any of the goods specified in the schedule at a price exceeding the standard or current market price thereof on that day, unless prior to so doing he has given notice to the tribunal of the higher price at which he intends offering goods for sale and the reasons for such higher price. “The provisions of the regulations apply, with necessary modifications, to rates or fees charged for the performance of services specified in the schedule,” continued the Minister. “The schedule covers all foodstuffs, wearing apparel of all kinds, boots and shoes, and most of the commodities that enter into the everyday use of the average household. in other words, they comprise most of the essential items which enter into the If it is found desirable at any time cost of living of the average family, in the interests of, and protection of, the public to add further goods and services, then this will be done. “The regulations do not cover commodities the price of which is already fixed by an Act of Parliament or by any regulations passed thereunder, nor do they apply to any goods that are sold by public auction or to goods of a perishable nature or to any goods sold as second-hand goods.” Co-operation Sought The Minister added that the main object of the regulations was to provide a tribunal with the information necessary for the carrying out of the duties entrusted to it by the Government, and he hoped that manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and the business and trading community generally would co-operate with the Government and with the tribunal in their endeavours to keep prices at a reasonable level. “The regulations become operative immediately, but in order to give the commercial community reasonable warning of the making of the regulations they have been allowed seven days from the date of enactment of the regulations in which to give notice of any price increases,” said the Minister. “This period of seven days’ grace of course, only applies to the first week in which the regulations are in operation. Thereafter notification must be given before any price increase is made.”