THE STATE OF TRADE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2479, 3 May 1909, Page 4

THE STATE OF TRADE.

AX AUCKLAND OPINION.

Auckland, April 25

“Trade generally is in a much improved condition throughout New Zealand,” says the manager of a wholesale firm doing business all over the Dominion, “and in the provinces there is a greatly improved tone. The season had been a good one, both from a pastoral, agricultural, ami dairying standpoint, and the tune of momentary stress seems to be pretty well over. This applies to those districts where rural pursuits are followed, but our travellers report to us that there is little oruo improvement in the mining towns. The reason for this is hard to ascribe, but it is nevertheless a fact. There is no doubt that conditions all along have been better in Auckland than in any other part of the Dominion. We have endless applications from the south askin to find positions in the Auckland province, which shows conclusively what the position is in the southern centres. . So even if we have not been getting all we want in this province, we at least know that weave better oft in Auckland than they are in the south. . The same gentleman says that his firm and others could not help, however, feeling that when there was a tightening, us was the ease last year, there was a great deal of unnecessary panic. I’eople began to talk “slump,” and then to prepare for it ; they drew in their horns and made a rod for their own lucks. In Auckland and other centres there is a great deaf pi paper business, and country storekeepers niul others do not go into business with (hou-ands in capital, but more often with only hundreds. When the merchants put pressure on to the country srorelveepers they in turn place it on the firmer. o , and so a general pinch is felt. “Speaking from a comparative point ol view,” he continued, “Auckland is in easily the best position. In the other centres trade lias been almost stagnant. Dunedin stands out among the othe.' cities, but its position is a peculiar one. They are solid business people down there with money. Travellers running through New Zealand always say they can invariably get money there, but no trade, Dunedin business people are on a • good financial footing, but they do not speculate in the game wqy f bat Augklanu and Wellington do." Another merchant says : -“In my opinion, we have come to the bottom ot things. There is no doubt that we have been right down on a commercial bedrock for some time past, but wc are now on the turn of the tide, and our infoiination from every quarter justifies the prediction that there is a good time ahead. Iheie has been a prolific season in all parts ot the Dominion, and the markets arc all holding their own, so that the financial position throughout the country 15 satigr factory. The position has all along btel) , very much hotter in the north than in the south. Dunedin is the only centre bearing comparison with Auckland, and there they do not show so much progress as steadiness. Altogether the outlook is exceedingly hopefiil, The stringent period seems to have been ’Successfully tided over, and conditions for trade generally appear as promising as could be wished for throughout the Dominion,