PRICES ARE RISING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 13

PRICES ARE RISING

Legislation Not Wholly To Blame W ELLIN GTON OPINION An Auckland me-sagi- in ye.stei’day'.s “Dominion” stilled that, anticipating higher working costs due io longer hours and better wages, under Government legislation, manufacturers were raising their prices io retailers from .luly L Inquiries in Wellington revealed that, while in most directions prices were rising .steadily, this was not due wholly io ili,. legislation, but was partly a reflection of general improvement. in trade conditions and standards of living during the lust year. Tlie rise in prices was world-wide, and it would be wrong to .-tsc-ribe it entirely to local causes. Woollen goods are one of New Zealand's most important manufactured products. Prices of made-up woollen goods have been rising .steadily during the last six months. slated several Wellington retailers. The last jump was one of 10 per cent., at the beginning of April. The cost of clothing, imported or home-manufactured, was undergoing universal increase. Shirt manufacturers in Auckland were stated to bo adding 5 tier <wr. to quotations for forward delivery. Wellington retailers stated that local shirt-makers had not yet. advised that they would make any general rise in prices; but of course that would come if overhead costs rose. Groceries and food materials are affected by circumstances more immediately from day to day. Grocers stated that, while at present, there was no particular alteration, food prices would undoubtedly soar up when the .new legislation came into force. Rising prices of leather due io an increased demand overseas were stated to explain Hie greater cost of footwear. One Wellington bootseller said that in the next six mouths he expected to see retail prices of footwear mount as much as three shillings in the pound. Already they had gone up (id. to 1/- a pair, owing to the higher cost of hides.

That the timber trade is preparing for a. rise in prices is shown by Hie following notice issued by tlie Wellington Timber Merchants’ Association: —“Following on the proposed reduction in hours of work and increased rates of pay, we wish to take this opportunity of advising that our existing price list is subject to alteration without notice, and that all orders placed with its after May 5, 1936, will he charged at Hie list rate ruling at dale of delivery. We would suggest that our clients bear this in mind in future contracts.”