Fiji's Price-Fixing System

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Dec. 23.

THE operation of the system of price fixing adopted by Fiji Legislative Council in December will be watched with interest.

After war broke out, Fiji set up a Competent Authority to fix prices of cer tain goods. Prices of goods not specified were controlled by a general limitation of profits. But the machinery was not adequate and, in November, a set of new regulations was introduced. But further legislation was found to be necessary, so a new Bill was introduced, and passed in the face of considerable opposition from non-official members.

The Bill makes provision for setting up committees in each district to watch prices and hear representations from the public. That committee will report to the central committee in Suva and if it is deemed necessary to fix a price the Competent Authority will do so.

All four sons of the Administrator of New Guinea (Sir Walter McNicoll) and Lady McNicoll are now on active service.

Major Ronald McNicoll is a-Staff Officer of Engineers in the Middle East; Lieu tenant-Commander Alan McNicoll, R.A.N., who left for England on ex change duty early in 1939, has been serving in a British cruiser as Torpedo Officer from the outbreak of the war; Corporal David McNicoll is in a Mechan ised Cavalry Unit; and now Mr. F.

McNicoll, B.Sc., has received his com mission as an Engineer in the Australian Service.