WHOLESALE TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 3

WHOLESALE TRADE.

SOFT GOODS. CHRISTCHURCH, November ‘24. The wholesale warehouses report that business is keeping up particularly well. HARDWARE. The hardware trade during the week lias continued up to expectations, and buyers are now realising that nothing can bu gamed by hoTcling ofi for lower prices. Orders from the country, except for bulk lines, are bettor than has been the case for several months, and buyers with actual business 1o place are advised to operate promptly. Stocks are certainly getting lighter, and delivery of lines which cannot now bo procured in England, and have been placed in America., are very slow indeed. Inquiries from' other parts of the Dominion a,re numerous, and a fair amount of business is being done with tho other centres. 'Rile promise of good hay crops lias caused a considerable demand for bay forks, and if is doubtful if stocks will he sufficient to boo over the harvest. Ploughshares are getting very short, and further shipments are very doubtful. The metal trade is quiet, the high prices restricting local , manufacturers, and importers aro keen to place further indents. j Castor oil is in considerable demand, and sundries used in connection with shearing qrc still selling well. The building trade remains quiet, but thevo are still a fair number of residences in course of construction. Corrugated iron stocks are decreasing, and it is almost impossible now to indent further supplies. Tho painting trade is quiet, but employers will not commit- themselves tar ahead, owing to the dearth of suitable labour. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. Tho first shipment of new season’s seedless raisins, prunes and Californian muscatels came to hand early this week, and is now rapidly going into consumption. The quality is first class, and owing to tho absolute bareness of the market it will not be long before supplies will again be very short, aud consequently higher prices will rule, as the producing market, is already asking a higher figure than is obtained locally at this moment. Supplies of currants are now running low, and it is unlikely that any large i quantity of new season's Slcdilerrancan fruit, will come to hand, as it would cost at least per lb to land. Dates also aro short, and it is hoped that no difficulty will be experienced in getting the shipment of new season’s fruit across from Australia. Tho Fultola is shortly due at Melbourne. The salmon mnrkot is very firm. The packers write under date October ‘24 as follows:—“There is very iitllo salmon left on hand here, just a few Gohoe halves’, Pink halves and Clium halves and tails. Other grades and shapes are practically sold out. It is possible now and again to find a little odd me lit of .10 or .103 cases, nothing more.” Shipments of twine are coming forward by tins Athonic. A small parcel of now season's Spanish muscatels and Jordan almonds is also on j the same steamer. It is practically certain that no further j shipments of English or Scotch herrings wiil ! come forward this season. j Flour advanced 20s a ton during the week, i Thero has also been an advance of Is a ! i case in Lhe price of Sunlight soap. Lux ! ; advanced 7s ltd and Monkey (is a case, whilst j ail other toilet »oapa were increased about - I 9d a dozen. '