GERMAN GOODS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 432, 24 June 1922, Page 5

GERMAN GOODS.

THE DOMING DELUGE. PRICES RIDK ULOUSLY LOW. SEWING MACHINE EUR 18s. LITHGOW, May 27. An inkling' of what Australian niamtfae-tm-oi's will be u]i against idler August 1 is provided in German catalogues which ant now entering the country, and an interesting resume of the experience of the Bout'i African Customs authorities as reported in the I ’apotow a press Goods art- now arming at the latter port from Germany at prices which will elfec lively kill any enterprise in the same line in Australia, unless the importers demand the world’s “parity.” Eor install! e, a German sewing machine interested the Capetown ollu-iaL immensely, seeing that though ii was declared to he a formidable rival ot a well known sewing machine, it was invoiced at only 18s. An umbrella, with steel ribs, capable of withstanding any storm, political or otherwise, was invoiced in Germany at 3s, worth at least in any other country ICs, and probably more. A bread machine was marked at lid and a small stove (certainly very small) for the ridiculous pMce of 3d. A beautifully made carpenter’s plane, which would probably fetch 40s in Australia to-day and 25s in England, was priced at ss. It included several sets of blades. A street arc lamp was invoiced at Ids. r lhe world’s price is £2 2s, A milling machine, such as can be splendidly made at the Lithgow Small Anns Factory at about £230, which is £lO or £2O below the world price, was marked at the absurd ligure of £7O, while a circular saw. a remarkable article for cutting steel, and having an extra, supply of 125 new teeth, fetches at least £7 10s anywhere but in Germany. The ligure for the article was £2 10s. Pianos were invoiced at from £l7 to £2O. They cannot be sold in England or America: to-day at less than £4O, whilst some Gorman pianos have been handled at Capetown which were priced as low as £6 10s. Germany will also probably enter this country with reliable motor-cars. Before the war one particular make cost £650 in Germany; to-day those same cars are invoiced abroad at £4OO, and they are declared to be on a parity with English and American cars selling in Australia to-day at from £IOOO to £1250. But the list is a long one, and makes most alarming reading for the Australian merchant. Clinical thermometers have been invoiced in South Africa at one penny 1 Their price here is at least 5s fid, A pianola outfit is out for sale at £l, and it is one of the finerf examples of this kind of cabinet, according to (lie officials, whilst tennis racquets, of the best make, are up for sale to the retailers at 6s. Toothpaste at Is 5d per dozen tubes, toilet cream at 2d loss, an imitation nickel razor at 4,1. sill; necktie 4Jd, etc., etc.. are also included in the range of importations, and it is certain that the outlook from the trade point of view is likely to be extremely difficult, though the general public should benefit substantially.