H.—44,

1942. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE (TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Your Excellency,— Wellington, 20th August, 1942. I have the honour to submit for your Excellency's information the report of the Department of Industries and Commerce for the past year. I have, &c., D. G. Sullivan, ' Minister of Industries and Commerce. His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand.

g IR; Wellington, 13th August, 1942. I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce. This report deals with the work of the Department since the previous report was placed before Parliament, and covers generally the period ended 31st March, 1942. In certain instances, however, matters subsequent to that date are also referred to. I have, &c., L. J. Schmitt, Secretary. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce.

PRICE CONTROL. As in the case of immediately preceding years, the complete control of prices for goods and services which was instituted at the outbreak of war has been continued. Under the Price Stabilization Emergency Regulations 1939 no increases in the selling-prices of goods or services may be made above the levels ruling on the Ist September, 1939, without the prior consent of the Hon. the Minister of Industries and Commerce or the Price Tribunal. The policy which was laid down by the Government as the basis on which the Tribunal should approve increases in selling-prices can be stated briefly as being that only those increases which are absolutely unavoidable should be approved. As a general rule actual extra costs have been allowed, but if traders are in a position to absorb increased costs they have been required to do so. Except under very special circumstances, no trader has been allowed to make any profit on increased costs, but has been required to maintain gross profits on the unit basis which operated prior to the outbreak of war. Under the Control of Prices Emergency Regulations which empowered the Tribunal, with the consent of the Hon. the Minister, to make Price Orders, a further thirty-three of such Orders have been made during the period under review, covering an extensive range of commodities, giving a total of sixty-seven Orders made since the regulations came into effect. In terms of Amendment No. 2of the regulations gazetted on 29th January, 1942, it is the duty of every retailer who is for the time being engaged in selling any goods, of which the retail price has been fixed by a Price Order, to keep a copy of the Order or a statement of the prices fixed thereby prominently displayed in every part of his shop in which any such goods are sold or offered for sale, or, alternatively, to keep in his shop a record or file of such Price Orders available for inspection by customers on request.