PRICE CHANGES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 11

PRICE CHANGES

POWERS OF TRIBUNAL MEETING HIGHER COSTS METHOD OF APPLICATION (By Telegraph.— Special to Times) WELLINGTON. Wednesday The power given him under the price stabilisation regulations to vary prices was explained by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement tonight. “The price stabilisation regulations make it illegal to increase the price of goods and services beyond those ruling on September 1, just before the outbreak of war,” Mr Sullivan said. “There is a provision, however, giving power to the Minister to vary prices. This provision does not appear to be as widely understood as it should be, with the result that some traders are refraining from ordering goods from abroad in the mistaken belief that they will not be permitted to recover in prices the increased costs of obtaining the goods. “Application to the Price Tribunal, accompanied by the necessary data, will be followed by permission being granted to increase the price of goods, but in strict accordance with increased costs only. Quick Decisions “Application may be made to the district officers of the Industries and Commerce Department at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and direct to the Price Tribunal itself in Wellington,” the Minister added. “District officers to whom application is made will communicate with the Price Tribunal, forwarding their recommendations in each case. The utmost endeavour will be made to facilitate quick decisions, and it will be of the greatest assistance if all applicants will provide the officers or the tribunal with full data and thereby avoid delay. “Additional facilities are being provided to expedite decisions,” concluded Mr Sullivan. “It will be in the interests of traders to co-operate with the tribunal, and if that is done, I am satisfied that a minimum of inconvenience will be incurred.”