CHRISTMAS STOCKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LI, Issue 5345, 4 December 1919, Page 3

CHRISTMAS STOCKS.

PROSPECTS NOT ASSURING

SHORTAGE IN LINES AND INCREASING PRICES.

From the point of view of the purchaser, the prospects of Christmas time purchases are not alluring. The consensus of opinion among merchants and shopkeepers is that stocks are low in many lines and prices are increasingly high. A leading merchant said yesterday that the outlook in both prices and stocks in connection with certain lines of drapery and fancy lines was not good. This was especially so in regard to many fancy lines usually in special demand at Christmas time. In regard to handkerchiefs, for instance, there are practically no gentlemen’s handkerchiefs in stock. This was specially so in reference to silk handkerchiefs. Ladies, he continued, used to be able to get a nice variety of handkerchiefs in boxes; now these lines were almost unprocurable at anything like a reasonable figure. Ties that were formerly 2s, now cost 5s Gd, and at the latter price they were not of as good design or equal in wear nr value to those that were formerly sold at 2s. The silk market generally was denuded. and silk was hard to obtain even in Japan, and what was secured from that country was at a high price. Shirts was one of the lines that, sold well at the holiday season. This year stocks were very low. and it was very hard to obtain anything near an adequate supply. They were not being sent from Home now. and had to be made up in New Zealand. Tim Dominion factories were kept very busy, and were not nearly able to meet the demand. There was a duty of 25 per cent, on the •gade-up article imported from Great Britain or elsewhere, while the material from which shirts were marie came in f v ee. Consequently it paid to save the ?5 per cent., and make up the material in the Dominion. Gentlemen’s hats were also increasing in price. He had recently placed * nice order in Sydney, but_ by last mail he received a letter stating that the order could only be executed at an increase of 15 per cent, on the price that had been quoted to him. Gentlemen’s socks was another line in which merchants were experiencing difficulty in obtaining supplies. Colonial woollen' socks were unprocurable. No fancy socks were to be had. and black cashmere socks were almost off the market. . . , Lace was soaring m price. He had ordered a big line of lace in China but had recently received a telegram from tlie Dominion agent stating that there had been an increase of 50 per cent, in price, and asking if lie would take delivery. He had replied no, as he knew that people would not buy it at the price that it would have to he sold at to make any profit whatever. . Crepe, formerly quoted at 12-kl in Japan, was now quoted wholesale at Is SRI. , . , In ladies’ special fancy lines, which were so often given as presents, there had been a remarkable rise. ihis especially applied to such lines as manicure sets, sachets, silk boxes ot all kinds, work bags, perfumes and toilet soaps.