PRICES AND PEACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 2

PRICES AND PEACE

NO SPEEDY REDUCTION. Discussing the probability or otherwise of the prices of commodities being reduced now that there is a. prospect of a speedy neace, "Vesta," in the Melbourne "Argus,' writes thnt it will be- a disappointment to ninny women to learn that importers in Melbourne give very littlo encouragement to' tho hope of a return' to normal conditions' None with whom sho discussed the situation anticipate a speedy drop in prices. "It will be next spring," one head of a large business assured her, "before any appreciable lowering of prices -will be seen— perhaps not even then, because a great deal depends upon the condition of Europe." Cottons, he thought, . would bo the first to fall-then silks, then woollen goods. Two factors would combine to steady the ' market for cotton goods, in the opinion of another business man who handles largo stocks of these. One is the enormous immediate demand that wih come from Central and Southern Europe for cotton stuffs, and the other is tho withdrawal of so many American workmen for military purposes. The scarcity of labour and other conditions have resulted in a greatly reduced cotton crop in America this year. The crop is many million bales short, and it will be a year before this shortago can be rectified. This gentleman, indeed, anticipates a further rise in some kinds of cotton stuff. Linen goods must also continue to be expensive, because it will be some'timo before, the old flax-growing areas will be able to be reorganised. There will be a saving effected, of course, in the quantity of linen used for aeroplane vings, but not enough to meet the increased demand as the mills revert to their normal work.

Woollen' Roods will be subject to a similar demand from Europe. All the evaciutcd territories will be resuming manufacture, nnd rniv material will be' urgently wanted, so that Hie price ol wool will be maintained. Australian wool has already been contracted for by the British Government at a price to be maintained for twelve months after the end of the war, and that fact alone will keep prices steady here. ' For some time past importers have been literally ''on rations," manufacturers apportioning , their available output pro. ratft amongst their customers. Purchasers, too, have been required to take immediate delivery of ths stuffs allotted to them. The result is that the importing houses have their 1919' winter stocks already in hand, or almost to hand, and in the case of. some of the bigger mporters, goods for 1020' are already bought. The prices of those goods must therefore be maintained if possible. A failure of demand, caused by depressed conditions here, ia the, only tiling lifcclv to bring thorn down. So far an silk is concerned the case looks betterto an uninitiated person. But, of course, a demand for other stuffs means a, demand for silks as well, and though a silk crop is more quickly realised than the others, prices will undoubtedly bo sympathetically- maintained. That, briefly, is the position as put by men who ought, to know. Their attitude was sympathetic, but discouraging. "The world is baro of fabrics," said one. authority, "nnd it will bo a long time before normal conditions of production and distribution can bo resumed." "Prices will never be so low again," said another, "because the English workmen, (ho European workmen, will never be asked to work for such low wages again." That fact lmpd not necessarily, of course, keep up prices. If improved wages and conditions of work led to increased working capacity, and increased output by .(he workers, the balance would be rour'ossed. But business men arc not sanguine of that result.

1 The prospect of manufacturers' stocks of military doth,-blankets, nnd underclothing being nviiiluble shortly in Australia for civilian mo was not considered lo be bright. The mills have not stoppod working for tho Govern..«-n(. yet It is anticipated that some considerable time will elap.se before the majority of our troops can be discharged, 'mid the availablo stocks will certainly «11 bo needed. Women, therefore, it would seem, must reconcile themselves to a continuance of present conditions for a year at least.

A solemn Hequiem Mass was celebrated at St. Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie, at nine o'clock yesterday morning to the memory of the late Sister Mary' Cham , !, of the Convent of Mwcy, Kilbirnie, who died on Saturday night. Tho ]{ev. Father M'C'arthy was the celebrant, and Archbishop O'Shea attended. The music was rendered by tho fi.thers of St. Patrick's College. The church was filled with sympathetic friends. AI the graveside Father Campbell officiated and tho priests sang tho "Benedictus."

On Iho motion of the Mayor (Mr. J. \V. il'Ewaii) at tho meeting of (tin lactone- Uorougli Council it was ordered (hat ii letter of condolence be sent to the relatives of Mrs. Cnllett. the superintendent of thn Ladies' Nursing Division, who died from tho effects of influenza while engaged in combating (ho epidemic.

Miss Bajjley (Aucklnml) paid a warm tribute lo voluntary workers in the influenza, epidemic, and made special reference lo Hie' valuable■ services of Iho school teachers. "During Urn epidemic," slie said, "the Icaehers had rallied to (ho call most noblv, and hud rendered particularly capable and efficient services."

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