I move amendment No. 1:
In page 3, before paragraph (b) to insert the following new paragraph:
( ) require manufacturers, wholesalers and importers to notify the Minister of any proposed increases in the prices charged by them for their commodities.
We welcomed this Bill as a delayed effort by the Government to correct a situation which we believed would develop in the autumn of 1963 and which we saw developing over the past 12 to 18 months, during which period the Minister for Industry and Commerce resisted all attempts to introduce any new machinery for price control or, for that matter, to use the machinery that was available to him under the Prices Act, 1958. However, it is a change of heart by the Government. This measure is being introduced because, as the Taoiseach said on behalf of the Government, the situation was such as to warrant new machinery to curb ever-increaslng prices.
We believe that the Bill with certain amendments can be much more effective than it is in its present form. We believe also that it seems from some of the remarks of the Taoiseach and of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, who spoke here last week, that it may not be the intention to use even the powers embodied in the Prices (Amendment) Bill, 1965. For that reason, I move on behalf of the Labour Party an amendment to section 1 although, of course, the whole Bill is merely one section. We propose a new paragraph to require manufacturers, wholesalers and importers to notify the Minister of any proposed increases in the prices charged by them for their commodities. I think it is necessary that the Minister should have this power because, in the first place, it would be somewhat of a deterrent to those who regulate prices not to do so in any unjust or unfair way. We know how prices have got out of hand in the past 18 months but we are not satisfied that there is a proper awareness within the Department of Industry and Commerce of numerous price increases.
I do not know very much about the machinery the Minister for Industry and Commerce has within his Department for the seeking out of price increases and their notification to him. It does not seem to me that those in the Department of Industry and Commerce have been over-industrious. I do not say they have been negligent, but it seems that price increases do not come to the notice of the Minister for Industry and Commerce until a certain amount of damage has been done. On occasions here in this House we have had to query the Minister by way of parliamentary question about the increase in the price of a certain commodity and in many cases the Minister tells us he has not received any complaints. I am not necessarily referring to the present Minister as he is not long enough in his present office. But, we said to his predecessor for a long time that people who believed they were being overcharged should take out their pens or pencils and write immediately to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. They do not do that. They complain to us, as I am sure they complain to the members of their own Party, expecting that these price increases will be brought to the notice of the Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Government.
I believe, therefore, that there should be an obligation on manufacturers, wholesalers and importers to notify any increases in prices charged for their particular commodities. Somebody might ask why we did not include retailers. I do not think it would be a practical suggestion to ask retailers in every shop in the country to notify price increases, even though it must be conceded in certain instances that prices by retailers have been increased unduly. In any case, the main point is that it takes a long time for price increases to come to the notice of the Minister. If that is not correct, I should like to hear evidence to the contrary.
As far as prices are concerned, we know some of the causes why they increased over the last 12 to 18 months. We concede immediately that the increase in wages must reflect itself to some extent in increases in prices. We recognise also that when the turnover tax was introduced prices increased further so that compensation would be given to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers for this particular tax. But I think it must be said also that in very many cases when such a tax as the turnover tax is introduced, when there is a round of wage increases, that unfair advantage is taken of these occasions by the application of increases over and above what would normally compensate for such a tax as this and for such a wage round.
Briefly, therefore. I should like to submit on behalf of my Party that the Minister should in section 1 of the Bill take power to require manufacturers, wholesalers and importers to notify him of any increase. After all, this measure has been introduced because the Taoiseach regarded the present situation as somewhat of an emergency. It might be considered to be an unusual stipulation at an ordinary time but if the holding down of prices is so vital, I think a contributory factor in this would be to insist that the people mentioned in the amendment would notify any price increases to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.