1.—13

Schedule.

No. 73/31 (Sess. 2). —Petition of Walker and Hall, of Auckland, and 15 others. Pbaying that a Select Committee be appointed to hear evidence in respect of certain matters relating to the use of trading-coupons and advantages to be derived therefrom. I am directed to report that the subject-matter of this petition having already been dealt with by the House during the present session, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th October, 1931.

Licensing Amendment Bill. I have the honour to report that, as the promoters of the Bill have found it impossible to bring forward their evidence this session, the Committee has no. recommendation to make, other than that the subject-matter of the Bill be considered by the Government when further licensing legislation is being brought down. 29th October, 1931.

Fbee-gift System. I have the honour to report that the Industries and Commerce Committee has passed the following resolution, viz. : — That the Chairman do lay upon the table of the House the report furnished by the Industries and Commerce Department relative to the abolition of the free-gift system, a copy of which is attached hereto. 29th October, 1931. CoTOON-TBADraCS BILL. Notes relative to Suggested Extension for the Purpose of prohibiting all Forms of Gifts or Concessions (in relation to the Sale of Goods) whether through the Coupon System or otherwise. (1) In the first place it must be evident that many so-called gifts or concessions are made in relation to the sale of goods which cannot be classed as objectionable. Many of these are commercially unimportant, but others are looked upon as regular and normal trading practices. Some of these " concessions " are regularly made with all sales, others are due to particular or special circumstances arising from time to time. For example, slow-selling lines are often disposed of along with attractive articles at an inclusive price or at special separate rates based upon the joint sale. An almost unlimited range of instances might be quoted where " gifts " or concessions of varying natures are made or allowed in wholesale and retail trade. Another phase of similar practices is seen in the distribution of free samples or in the adoption of special sales-promotion methods when one article already established on the market is used as a means of introducing to buyers the merits of other relatively unknown or new products made or sold by the proprietary interests concerned. To prohibit (or rather to endeavour to prohibit) all such practices for the purpose of preventing the class of gift now objected to—a class which is distinguishable only by reference to the intentions of the seller —would be a very extreme step. It is virtually impossible to draw any line of demarcation between that which is clearly a recognized and accepted legitimate trade practice and that which is now in some quarters objected to as being unfair, uneconomic, and illegitimate trading. (2) In comparison with the coupon method of distributing gifts, the " straight " gift system does not involve any serious possibilities of deception.

3

Date received. No. of Petition. Member presenting. Petitioner. 20 August, 1931 .. 97/31 (Sess. 2) .. Hon. Mr. Stallworthy .. P. Floyd and 5 others. 20 „ „ .. 98/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Parry .. .. A. Kohn and 21 others. 20 „ „ .. 99/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Endean .. .. P. Havman and 12 others. 20 „ „ .. 100/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Endean .. .. J. Smith and 10 others. 20 „ „ .. 101/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Jordan .. .. Thompson Bros, and 8 others. 20 „ „ .. 102/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Jordan .. . . G. A. Guest and 4 others. 20 „ „ .. 103/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Savage .. .. T. E. Price and 14 others. 22 February, „ .. 110/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Fletcher .. .. Abbott, Armstrong, and Howie, and 21 others. 22 „ „ .. 111/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Fletcher .. .. Langford Bros, and 10 others. 24 August, „ .. 112/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. W. Nash. . .. Arnold and Son and 18 others. 24 „ „ .. 113/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Semple .. .. W. H. Cronk and 23 others. 24 „ „ .. 114/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Semple .. .. S. J. Plant and 4 others. 24 „ „ .. 116/31 (Sess. 2) .. Hon. W. I). Stewart .. D. Broderick and 75 others. 24 „ „ .. 116/31 (Sess. 2) .. Hon. W. D. Stewart .. J. McFarlane and 41 others. 28 „ „ .. 121/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Ansell .. .. Milne, Bremner, Ltd., and 11 others. 29 „ „ .. 123/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. H. Holland .. Manning and Dorreen, Ltd., and 300 others. 3 September, „ .. 124/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Fraser .. . . Mouat Bros, and 14 others. 3 „ „ .. 125/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Fraser .. .. Janson Bros, and 10 others. 3 „ „ .. 126/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Wright .. .. J. A. Logan and 12 others. 3 „ „ .. 127/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Wright .. .. J. G. Jennings and 20 others. 3 „ „ .. 128/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Wright .. .. J. E. Furness and 5 others. 3 „ „ .. 129/31 (Sess. 2) .. Mr. Wright .. .. Watchman Bros, and 14 others.