L—l3A.

Allen Saline Co. (N.Z.), Ltd.— I Salmond and Spraggon, Ltd.— Rhusal Salts. As Agents for— Bi-sal indigestion powder. j Muenzol. Frusaline health saline. Scott s emulsion. Aspro Ltd.- Sharland and Co., Ltd.A miros Nazol. A. and W. Baxter, Ltd. — Gibbs'dentifrice. Baxter's lung preserver. Tobacco manufacturers and agents (tobacco and cigaroe ' Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturers, Ltd. ' BeU iea ' T , Bagrie and Howie, Ltd. Geo. Bonnmgton, Ltd-"" Barlow Bros. Bonmngton s Irish Moss. Ciaude W. Batten and Co. Cadbury, Fry, Hudson, Ltd. British and Dominion Traders, Ltd. " Bournville " cocoa, Bournvita. ,] 0 Jj eer . Colgate, Palmolive, Peat Co., Ltd.— X. E. Clayton and Co. Soap, dental preparations, &e. I )ix and Hampton. Palmolive soap, &c. Dominion Tobacco Co., Ltd. Coloseptic Co. (N.Z.), Ltd. — Eairbairn, Wright, and Co. Coloseptic. General Tobacco Co., Ltd. Digest Tea, Ltd.— Godfrey Phillips (N.Z.), Ltd. Tea, &c. H. E. Haines. T. J. Edmonds, Ltd.— P- Horspool and Co Baking and custard powders. J- M. Hyams (N.Z.), Ltd. Fletcher, Humphreys, and Co., Ltd. — Imperial Tobacco Co. of N.Z., Ltd. " Amber Tips " tea. Harold Lightband, Ltd. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.'s N.Z. Drug Co., Ltd.— London Distributors, Ltd. K.P. life salt. Loyal, Ltd. Kruses fluid magnesia. Malmg and Co., Ltd. Lane Medicine Co., Ltd.— Mardon Tobacco Co. Lane's emulsion. National lobacco Co., Ltd. Osborne Manufacturing Co., Ltd. — National Dairy Association of N.Z., Ltd. Certain " 0.M.C." products. Nelson Tobacco Co., Ltd. Proteena Milling Co., Ltd.— Sargood, Son, and Ewen, Ltd. Proteena products. Tait, Carlisle, Simpson, Ltd. Potter and Birks (N.Z.), Ltd.— Traders Tobacco Co Ltd Johnson's baby powder. Wakefield lobacco Co., Ltd. Salmond and Spraggon, Ltd. — s'?' As agents for Wilson Malt Extract Co., Ltd.'— Q-tol liniment. Malt-extract. Q-tol shaving-cream. W. E. Woods, Ltd. Q-tol tooth-paste. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Mr. O'Leary.] Quite a large list where the prices are fixed. You hope that this amendment will enable the Proprietary Articles Trade Association to be formed and operate in New Zealand I—Yes.1 —Yes. You know, I suppose, that that association and this proposal to function in New Zealand was considered in 1927 by a Committee of inquiry set- up under the Board of Trade Act ?—Yes. And at its sittings evidence was given using the very arguments that you have put forward— grocers and others cutting and slaughtering lines to the detriment of the small trader —all these arguments were put forward before that Committee ? —Yes. This is what the complete majority of the Committee found (page xvii of the report of the P.A.T.A.) : The P.A.T.A. proposes to arrange for the fixation of resale prices and to maintain those prices by a system of boycott, the effect of which is to withhold supplies of all articles registered with the P.A.T.A. should a trader sell one article below the fixed selling-price." That is what you want to operate ?— As to the P.A.T.A., it was assumed that the matter would be gone into very fully before the Government passed any legislation. _ Apparently the association has the same methods wherever it operates—m New South Wales and in England. It was put in in Mr. Barker's evidence yesterday : " The essence of the Proprietary Articles Trade Associations plans for dealing with cutting is that if the fixed minimum prices of a single manufacturer are cut all manufacturers (and also wholesalers where prices are cut by a retailer) undertake to withhold supplies of all listed goods." That is the evidence ? —Yes. This is what the Committee said (p. xvii, P.A.T.A.) : " In view of the foregoing, the majority of the members of the Committee believes that the proposals of the association constitute a dangei to the public, are too far-reaching in efiect, and are not justifiable under existing conditions. The element of force obtained bv the boycott is a weapon which no body of citizens could u«e without coming sooner or later into serious conflict with public opinion. The possibility of abuse and private vengeance cannot be ignored." Mr. O'Leary.] Can you give the Committee any reason why there should be a change in view towards the association between 1927 and 1935 ? —I am not in a position to give an extra detailed statement, but I would like to say this : that if that Committee were sitting to-day after these eight years' experience they may not have put forward the same views.

Mr. O'Leary said that he understood he would have an opportunity of summarizing, but he really did not feel that it was necessary to burden the Committee further —he had taken up a great deal of the Committee's time at the commencement, and he would be only too happy to supply any further information desired. Mr. Wilkinson had asked for particulars from Mr. Sutherland in regard to bread prices, and that would be handed in on the arrival of Mr. Sutherland, jun.

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