TRADE OF THE YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume 304, Issue 304, 23 December 1926, Page 8

TRADE OF THE YEAR.

IFFICULT TIME FOR SHOPS. CHRISTMAS SEASON WELCOMED. OPEN-HANDED SPENDING. Ii the butter industry is good in New .aland, just about every other business good too. The shops have had -a ificult time during the past twelve onths, and it is little wonder, then, that te arrival of the Christmas season is elcomed by everyone. Summer was late this year, and, unirtunately for the suffering retailer, iss Auckland delayed buying her earner dresses; Even the carnival days of id-November could not make people forit that winter was lingering far beyond s proper time and that spring seemed i have little prospect of being fitted in ;tween winter and summer. It was hot go last year. For this >untry, 1925 was a normal year. At le end of it, the outlook was regarded 3 rather better in regard to a number i trades than it had been since 1920. Boot and shoe manufacturers and the uraers of clothing factories believed that te depressed conditions of the previous ear were due principally to the volume i imports, and the manufacturers reeatedly claimed that the local product as better in quality than that from ther countries. Their position, howrer, continued to be one of some uncerlinty because of the serious disturbance lat resulted to their businesses on the asis of price levels. The shoe manufacturer and leather imorter is confronted with an array of laterials and styles in colours and texires which is not only extremely bewilering, but also leads to timidity in orderlg. The types comprise every descripion of reptile and fancy grains in patent, _lf, kid, and side leathers, in a varied olour assortment. The Americans are articularly enterprising in this repect, and, being usually first in the field, cap the benefit of setting the fashions. Wide Range of Imports. Sawmilling has again been very adersely affected by importations of timer and by accumulations of 0.8. timber, .he mill owners have lately stated that he position is aggravated by the byiws of the City Council and the various üburban local authorities, which require hat only heart timber must be used in xposed parts of buildings. Trade in millinery, mantle and madeip goods generaUy has not been mainained. The stocks are reported to m arge; in some cases over-importing hai (ccurred, and, these goods being mucl iffected by fashion, some fairly heavj osses have resulted. Local manufac uring is increasing and satisfying thi narket in many respects, and this musi jontinue to lessen the imports of made ip goods. On the other hand, maiitifac .urers will be buying piece goods foi naking up, chiefly from Great Britain Silks have enjoyed an enviable piace ii .he market all through the year. Owin| to the low prices that have been ruling it is reported that this section shows i aotaWe development. In fact, the pre ferential tariff on this line is so smal that it does not assist the British manu facturers, and 75 per cent or more of th imports of silks into New Zealand ar Continental or Eastern. Accumulation of Stock. Imports of drapery and textiles wer greater than in 1925 in most classes « goods, btttj as business the begin ning has been patchy and uncertain, th reports are not as good as those of las December, and it is generally admitte that the retail trade in many section did not have the good winter season tha was anticipated. The spring turnove was not as good as could be desired an there was, consequently, an accumuls tion of stock. Hosiery has been Selling as well t usual, but the competition is very sever according to the statements of tl retailers. British manufacturers hoi a strong position, especially in the low and medium grades of ladies* hosier; but American goods in the better gradi of silk and art silk are being import, in large quantities. German hosiery also being shown in the market and tl prices compare more than favourab! with other makes.

• dome Pleasing Changes. Some changes have taken place in the grocery and provisions section, notably ftta i_cre__te in the quantities of canned fruits that have arrived from Australia, and a decrease in imports from U.SJL There has also been a heavy increase of imports of certain types of canned fish of British manufacture, Which were formerly supplied only by Norwegian packers. A large proportion of the trade in the various kinds of polishes of American origin has changed its course, the British manufacturer having secured a large share of it. It may-also be mentioned that boot polishes are now very largely *" New Zealand-made. 1 The day of the American breakfast £ food is reported to be waning, and the * local manufacturer, milling locally-grown * grain, is in the leading position with his "* low-priced product, which is usually of * good quality. , - 1 In regard to tobacco and cigarettes, ths English manufacturers retain an over- * whelming percentage of the business, and * the total importations have shown a ' slight increase upon last year's. " Case of Over-importing. Heavy importations of fancy goods i were made at the beginning of the year, _ and the market became somewhat over- j loaded. It is now reported that retailers i will probably have a considerable carry- « over into 1927. In fancy leather goods, . there has been a strong demand for i ladies'' handbags. Germany has been active in securing a share in the business, and France has benefitted from the depreciation of the franc England, however, is expected to continue receiving the bulk of the business. Doubtless the best trade of the year in fancy goods is being done this week, and the same applies to toys. The toy trade is a highly seasonal one. Last - Christmas season a good business was done. In individual cases at present, the prospects are even more promising than at that time, and this week various firms v have been deluged with orders. There 1 has been an improvement in all depart- J ments. British scooters, tricycles, velocipedes ahd constructional toy_ have been 1 selling briskly, and in the stuffed toys i and indoor games sections, English 3 manufacturers have again attracted the 1 public by their new and popular ideas. ' Buying Season Arrives. , Dolls, trick toys, mechanical trains, - tea sets, carnival novelties, decorations, i tin toys and others supplied by Germany ] appear, however, to be claiming the bulk of the toy business, and Japan has also i a leading place in goods of the cheaper varieties. As the shop-keepers look back over their experience during the past twelve months, they are able to find satisfaction in having arrived once again at the : best shopping season of the whole year, when toys and jewellery sell as freely as groceries, and paterfamilias is out to buy anything from a homely teapot to the latest brand of wireless set. Economy bottled up for close on a year must give way to the Christmas habit of free spending, and expensive tastes must have their turn.