Profiteers Warned 'The warning which the Municipal Council has addressed to the various provision, and mer-chaute associations, and market dealers on th: Subject of prices is to say the least timely, In it it is quite plainly' stated that though there has been an Improvement in the value of the Chinese dollar, there has been little or no decline In the prices charged by certain retail slares, and the point is made that when prices fare Increased when there is a fall in exchange, they should, unless for reasons satisfactory, to the Council, be reduced when the value of. the Chinese dollar rises. When prices were fixed game time ayo, when it was ascertained how Jow the Chinese dollar was going, retailers made certain of their profit in the new prices Axed. That was only to be expected of them. Now that the Chinese dollar has improved by almost tone penny an extra profit of something in the holghbourhood of thirty per cent, Is also bel made, If that Is not rank profiteering it is dimeutt to know what is. It has often been said, with very considerable truth, that when prices for foodstuffs and the like have been Increased those Increases have always come to Glay, When the dollar wag at normal levels and the spread of fluctuation limited there was comparatively ttle to complain about, but, as conditions are now, failure to return to the purchasing public any benefit which may accrue from the Improvement in the exchange.value fof the dollar considerably affects the lot of the Tow wage earning classes, It Is to be hoped that the threat contained in the Secretary~ General's letter will be implemented if occasion arises, There should be no real diMeulty in devising pains, and penalties calculated to establish control over even the most rapacious proftecrs, and it is eminently desirable that full Eooperation should be established between the {wo munlelpalities In order that the public shall not be vielimized in the manner which it is Being at present.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.