PRICE OF MEAT

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20915, 21 September 1939, Page 2

PRICE OF MEAT

GOVERNMENT POLICY REFUND TO PURCHASERS MAXIMUM RATES FIXED (By Telegraph.—special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The policy of the Government concerning the regulation of wholesale meat prices was outlined by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in replying to a series of urgent questions asked by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates opposition—Kaipara , in the *House of Representatives today. The questions were originally addressed to the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, but he explained that Mr Sullivan was in charge of price regulation within New Zealand. "It is the intention of the Government to see that the maximum prices for meat do not exceed those that ■were being charged as at September 1, 1939,'’ Mr Sullivan said, in reply to the first question. "Meat, together with other commodities, comes under the Price Stabilisation Regulations, 1939. "The Director of Internal Marketing, as Food Controller, did notify stock and station auctioneers that the prices must not exceed those obtaining prior to September 1,” Mr Sullivan continued, in answering Mr Coates’ second question. "Stock and station agents were, however, advised that, if they had exceeded these prices, the amounts charged in excess of the rates of September 1 were to be refunded to purchasers who had been charged in contravention of the regulations.”

This reply was to an inquiry by Mr Coates whether stock auctioneers had been notified that any values received at auction above the rates of September 1 were to be handed over to the Government. "The Food Controller made no statement to the effect that stock and station agents would be put out of business,” Mr Sullivan said in response to Mr Coates’ final question. Mr Coates asked whether the Director of Internal Marketing had informed stock and station agents that any failure on their part to comply with the notice given would be followed by an immediate action, and that the concerns so failing would be put out of business.