GENERAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17015, 11 December 1920, Page 7

GENERAL NOTES.

"Whilst tlie Broken Sill miners we®e demonstrating "loyalty to a principle," i.®.« maintaining a striks that practically mined the great mining centre, and- incidentally ' impoverished themselves, silver waa sealing 03 high ae 6s per oz. The strife® ia now over, but so ia the high price of silver. This weekis quotation was Ss.SJcL Broken Hill missed a veritable fortune whilst its people were idling It i® reported that e&veral northexn soft goods' meux>han'ta have, been heavily caught in the recession of Homo prices. Silk ia ono item productive of heavy - loss, and amongst others are cotton, and kapoo. Efforts to cancel in some ocees were unavailing, as consignments in most cases were cu the water. The now rapid delivery of accumulated orders is accentuating the difficulties at prcsept facing importers. Tho report of the trado of Australia for the year 1919 by Mr S. W. B. McGregor, hi 3 Majesty's Senior Trado Commissioner 1 in Australia, contains, to .Australian tmd J'tew Zealand merchants, an ifttrestinff observation in regard to trade with Japan and America. Mt McGregor points out that tho largo increase in American trade has brought a number of American, firms new to Australia • and inexperienced in oversea trado generally into .close contact with Australian firms. The latter in. many cases have been dissatisfied with American methods, and tho bulk trade should revert to the United Kingdom. On the. other hand, it is understood that, various American organisations are makingl strenuous efforts to promote greater efficiency in export methods. In his opinion, in the future American competition will be felt more particularly in machinery, small tools, hardware, metals, and specialities of various kinds. Japanese methods of trade and quality of goods supplied havo continued to be unsatisfactory. Japan also is stated to be making great national efforts to improve hear methods of manufacture and trading, end it is difficult to forecast the lesult of these efforts combtfied with the factor of cheap labour. It appears probable that Japan will lose the bulk of hor trade with Australia which was created during 1914-15. _ _ Discussing economic conditions in the United States tho November trade circular of John Dunn, Son, and Ci>., states that the ■gradual slackening of trade continues, due to a waiting 1 attitude on the part of the public which has been accentuated by the unusually mild weather prevailing. The letail dealers "are aggravating the situation by holding out for prices higher than replacement -values. They are unwilling to accept losses on goods in stock, and_ will not meet the expectations of the public which is influenced by sensational newspaper account® of drastic cuts in the wholesale prices - of many commodities. At tho manufacturing centres curtailment is much in evidence, particularly in the textile, automobile, ana related industries. Considerable unemployment is eaid to exist at - such localities, but not us yet of sufficient extent to result in much shifting to other industries. Deflation of wages is only beginning, and its course will bo slow, but unless conditions improve materially this must be the next step. The inflow of immigrants if longcontinued in present volume, will exert a poworful influence in 'this direction. The arrivals of aliens at New York is on * -ecale to tar its facilities to the fullest extent, and steamship companies report their capacity as booked for many months ahead. It is now generally recognised that full business activity be ivjsumed until lvalues become "stabilised and a level is reached at which commitments for the future may be entered into with confidence. Before this is reached, labour as well as commodities must pass through a time of declining prioes.