WOOLLEN GOODS

Evening Star, Issue 22535, 31 December 1936, Page 6

WOOLLEN GOODS

10 PER GENT. ADVANCE RETAILERS NOTIFIED INCREASED COSTS Clients of one of the Dominion’s hig woollen manufacturing companies have been advised that the prices for clothing and piece-goods are to be advanced by 30 per cent, as from the' beginning of January. One of the executive officers of a leading retail firm in Dunedin stated to-day that a notice to this effect had been received, and apparently similar notices have been sent to retailers in other parts of the Dominion. NOT UNEXPECTED. From inquiries made, it would appear that the announcement of the increase was not altogether unexpected. The reason given for the advance is the substantial rise in the price of raw wool and the increased labour costs brought about by the recent industrial legislation. When the labour legislation first took effect, manufacturers advanced prices provisionally by about 12J per cent., and agreed to feel their way. At least oho firm has now decided that it must make the additional increase of 10 per cent, to meet the added burden of costs. Prominent retailers expressed the opinion that one effect of the increase would be that cheaper goods would be preferred against higher quality woollen manufactures because the same people would not be able to afford the better qualities, although there was always a largo section willing to pay a higher price to secure quality goods. With the addition of sales tax, and the retailer’s profit, a member of the staff of another shop pointed out, the increase to the public would be something more than 10 per cent. He said that his firm had also received advice from Home of increased prices for both woollen and cotton goods. Since November, for example, there had been a rise of 12£ per cent, in the price of English-manufactured cotton goods, and on top of this_ increase there were the exchange, freight, and insurance charges to be met. As an instance of the increase in prices locally, he referred, to the price now charged for a carpenter’s apron. Before the new industrial legislation was introduced this particular apron, he said, sold at 2s lid; to-day the price had gone iip to 3s 6d. People complained that the advance in prices was such that they were no 'better off with their higher wages, completely forgetting that they could not expect to bo the only sections of the workers to enjoy increased wages. SUITS WILL COST MORE, A leading tailor in the city said he had not been advised of the increase in the price of woollen goods. He said that an advance of 10 per cent, would add about 6s on to the cost of d suit, prices for which had already increased by as much as £1 as a result of the new industrial legislation. The latest samples of first-class English worsteds also bore increased prices. Before the war they could be bought for 10s a yard: now the prices shown for the samples ho had received recently were a little over 18s and 19s a yard.