22
Wednesday, March 27, 1974
"It also means that I must have the most comprehensive advice
from the trade and from the public about supplies and prices. Finally it
means that I must be able to monitor the results of any controls I impose
and ensure that people who break the rules are penalised. It goes without
saying that any such controls should be dismantled as soon as possible."
Mr. Jordan said that he had come to the conclusion that his
authority to influence supplies on the way to the consumer must be extended
to wholesalers if he was to prevent this section of the trade from hoarding
and anticipating price increases.
He proposed therefore to seek some amendment to the Reserved
Commodities Regulations.
"As far as the retailers are concerned, I hope that we can maintain
a sufficiently strong influence on their prices by ensuring adequate supplies
to them on the one hand and through the direct retail scheme on the other,"
he said.
Mr. Jordan said that in recent months, and despite a fully
adequate supply of rice to the market, he had been aware of temporary
shortages occurring from time to time at the consumer end of the trado.
These shortages were caused by the expectation within the trade
of retail price increases, as one supplier or another announced increases
in prices.
The shortages were artificial and some of them were undoubtedly
contrived in order that people holding stocks of rice at all levels of the
trade could profit from higher prices, Until recently, however, this sort
of thing had only a slight effect on trade and prices.
/Towards the .....................