OPTIMISTIC VIEWS OF TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14507, 26 April 1909, Page 6

OPTIMISTIC VIEWS OF TRADE

ACCKUAXDERS CRITICISE BOiKDIN (Fhou Ore Own Corkksfoxdekt.) AUCKLAND, April 25. "Trade generally is in a much improved condition throughout Xew Zealand," says the manager of a wholesale linn doing business all over the Dominion, "and in tho provinces there is a greatly improved tone. The season has been a good one. both from a pastoral, agricultural, and duiryiriff standpoint, and the time of monetary stress seems to he pretty well over. This applies to those districts where rural pursuits are followed, but our travellers report to us that there is little or no improvement, in tho mining towns. Tin' reason for this i«s hard to ascribe, hut, it is nevertheless a fact. There is no doubt that the conditions all along have bc-en better in Auckland than in any other part of the Dominion. We have endless applications from the south asking us to find jwsitions in tho Auckland province, which shows conclusively what the position is iu Hi© southern centres, so even if we have not been setting all we want in this province, we at least know that we are belter oil' in Auckland than they are ii\ the south." The same gentleman says that his firms and others could not help, however, feeling that- when there was a tightening and, as was the case last year, when there to a great deal of nnnecefsary panic, people liega.ii to talk "slump" and then to prepare for it. They drew in their horns ami made a rod" for their own backs. In Auckland and other centres there is a great deal of paper business, and country storekeeper? and others do not go into business with thousands in capital, but more often with otdy hundreds. When the merchants put pressure on to the country storekeepers they in turn place it on the farmers, ami so a general pinch is felt. "In speaking from a comparative point of view." he continues, " Auckland js in easily the best position. Tn the other centres trade lias been almost stagnant. Dunedin Mauds out from among the other cities, hut its position is a peculiar' one. Tlrcy are solid business people down there, with money. Travellers running thi'oucrh New Zealand always say they can invariably get money there, but no trade. Dunedin business people are on a good financial footing, but thev do not speculate in the same way that Auckland and Wellington do." Another merchant says: "In my opinion we have come to' the bottom of things. There is no' doubt that we luive been right down on a commercial bedrock for some time past, but we are now on the turn of tho tide, and our information from every quarter justifies the prediction llial there is a good timo ahead. There has lieen a prolific season in all parts of the Dominion, and the markets are all holding their own, so that the financial position throughout tho country is satisfactory. Hie position has all a'oii!; been very much better in t-lio north thsunn the south. Dunedin is the only centre bearing comparison with Auckland, audi theie they do not show so much progress as steadiness. Altogether the outlook i.s exceedingly hopeful. The stringent period seems to have been successfully tided over and conditions for trade. generally appear as promising a.s could 'be wished for throughout the Dominion."