LESSONS OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 2

LESSONS OF THE WAR.

-, '■■ ■-. l -,'\*l',■;.■- . .' ...... . AtrCKLANDERS ECONOIOSIHG. DECREASE IN TRADE ORDERS. " PRUDENCE MORE THAN CASH SHORTAGE." A spirit of economy would appear to be passing over the Dominion With the result that purchasing is being mainly I confined to the necessities of life. The J fact that the spending power of the injdustrious section of the community id (not decreasing is indicated by the 'announcement which the Prime Minister made at Papatoetoe a few days ago to ithe effect that the Post Office Savings Bank showed a better return during last month in comparison with the corresponding period Of approximately £164,----000. This applies to the Dominion as a whole. At the same time it is apparent that tradespeople are not doing as much trade ag they were befo- c the outbreak of war. Doubtless the people are profiting by the lesson of the international crisis, and are husbanding their resources for future necessities. Inquiries were jmade by a representative of the "Star" this morning with a view to ascertainink the condition of affairs in Auckland. WHAT THE BUTCHERS SAY. The president of the Master Butchers' Association (Mr. R. H. Johnson) said that a desire to cut down expenses had been noticeable among customers of late. I "'I think," he added, "that it is mainly .due to a desire to study economy during 'the period of the war." Mr. Johnson I said that the people were ordering the same class of goods as heretofore — choicj cuts, small goods, etc. —but they I were keeping down the size of the joints, I That indicated a determination to use up everything instead of so freely throwing remnants to household animals. 'He did not think that the retail price was likely to increase further. Since the war it had gone up about seven and ahalf per cent, due partly to the increased demand for frozen meat for abroad. Now that the Government had a fixed schedule price for purposes of export, I however, he did not think that prices } would fluctuate. He regarded the sehed- ■ ule as a fair one in respect of beef, but 1 thought it hisrh in regard to secoiid- \ class meats. . Mr. Johnson expressed the ; emphatic opinion that in fixinsr the schedule the Government should'have consulted the retail trade as wpII as the wholesale''people. -He hoped that would be done in the event of further «egota- !- tions. In a., final .referee "to'the falling off iri : tfrde'rsPMr. "Johnson remarked that■iir , 'tsnft& , of the'*peQi>le n«uallv cut *own thp b»teher and th° biker ffrafc "Thp tiling that are left till the .last, he adflert. "are hor«e-rac'n». picture shows, and liper." He did not think however. that there was special cause for concern. TOE BAKERS' EXPLANATION , . A general falling off in orders waa admitted by the president of the Master , .Bakers Association (Mr. John Burton) but it was pointed out,-by-way of explanation, that this ij a usual experience from January to March. In the first place, said Mr. Burton, the summer sea son. is an. vnsettlej_iiipe, so many peopl¥ being on the more. Secondly the hot., weather .caused a ■ slackening in consumption. A third reason was that fruit formed an important part of the summer diet. Asked if the falling off was more pronounced this year than usually. Mr. Burton said that it was tie gave as the principal reason the fact I that bread had increased in price to the I extent of 25 per cent consequent on the high price of flour, and also th.it fruit jhad been plentiful and cheap. Win [some people, foresee'ng the rise in flour! I had purchased stocks, and were now baking their own bread. "\n the same '" 3lr - Burton - "I quite expect that after this month th e output will return to the normal stated ' A I 'GIRO6eR icOMPLiWNT. A .prominent of the grocery trade 'was also approached. According to nis. statmerit, that branch is feeling the altered conditions as much as anyone. "We have the cam e number of people coming i n> » he said, "but only about half the money. One reason is,, that they have not as much cas h available as formerly, and another i 3 that the wretched drapery sales take so much of what they have. I know one large drapery firm, not far from us, who took more at their last sale than ever before. Yes, that's what takes the current , cash. DRAPERS WELL PLEASED. With regard to the drapery business, a representative of the Drapers Milliners, and Mercers' Association said that trade bad been keeping up wonderfully well. Instead of buying the better class of goods, however, customers were goin» m for otoeaper articles and more of them, fhat is what we are finding right r through," he added, "but nevertheless the amount o! business during recent months has been far in excess of expec- • tations.'-" Allowing for the preference i being shown by customers for goods of lower quality, the drapery firms are adi justing their buying in the Home markets. While he could not speak with cert linty with regard to the coming season, he nevertheless believed that the satisfactory tone would be maintained 1 in the retail trade. LESS DRINKING DONE. Hotelkeepers state that a decided falli ing Off has occurred in the amount of liquor consumed. One of the reasons, they think, is that so many wageearners 'have left for the front, and another is that numbers of men have caught the spirit of economy. "It means," said One, "that the people are more careful and prudent than they were before. I don't think that it is because the spending power of the c«hraunity is necessarily less. The coat of living is certainly a little greater, but wages have H6t decreased." The hotelkeepers agree that the falling off in trade is more pronounced with regard to spirits than to beer, which is less expensive. . SMOKERS , SELF-DENIAL. According to Mr. H. Partridge tie tobacconists have aleo experienced a I falling-'off in business, more especially in respect of fancy lines. Retailers state that in any but "bread and butter" lines business is considerably below normal. "I suppose," said Mr. Part- , ridge, "that, like other people, smokere have decided that it' is wise for them to cut down on luxuries. It is perhaps j not so much a shortage of money as uncertainty in regard to unknown liabilities that are hanging over their ; heads. We are hopeful, however, that ; conditions will soon get back to normal." i- ..■■■■ '- 1 -j ■'-' ... .;.' '.' ••.■.•.'-.•■•■ ' ... .<

GET USED TO IT.. (By Association.). WELLffNGTON, ihie day. Referring to the reported decrease of 20 per cent, in demand, for bread in Christchurch, Mr. A. Raven (president of the Wellington Master Bakere' Association) stated that the decrease locally is about 5 per cent. A rise in the price of bread, he explains, is always accompanied by a lesser demand, which generally lasts only a week or two. People for a while are . more economical, but the demand returns to normal when they grow accustomed to the. price. From January to March bread sale 3 are always lower than at other times of the year on account ot the fruit seaeon. A further increase in price is not thought of; all depends on the cost of flour. ECONOMIES IN CHRISTOHURCH. (By Telgraph.—Prees Association.) CHRISTCHUROH, his day. Cbristchurch bakere state that during the past two months the consumption of bread in the city has decreased by 20 per cent on the average, each rise <>f price being marked 'by a decreased demand. It appears that people are learning to economise, while some are making their own bread, and many are using more fruit, which is now obtainable at low prices.