LOWER DRAPERY PRICES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1765, 17 March 1921, Page 4

LOWER DRAPERY PRICES.

Drapery prices were expected to come down in New Zealand in 1921, and they have come down very considerably, says the secretary of |hc New Zealand Drapers’ and Clothiers’ Federation. How much only those behind the scenes know. The revenue of the country will show if income tax brings in only ;")0 per cent, of the amount anticipated and Customs duties shrink 75 per cent. Yet this is w’hat will happen if the public does not wake up to the fact that very cheap goods are lying within their roach, and that they will make money out of every pound they spend just now. But the public must not suppose that Horroekses ’ calico is going to be 1/ a yard to-morrow morning. The thing can’t be done, not if they hold off buying all winter. Both wholesale and retail stocks have been written down during January, February and the present month, in some cases at an actual loss of capital. These heavy reductions may be seen in the shop windows. And yet higher priced goods are arriving, which in turn must bo written down to meet the public demand for lower' prices. But there is a limit to fjuch sacrifices of capital. If the public refrain from buying ordinary necessaries from the retailer, the retailer will not buy from the wholesaler; he, in turn, will not indent. Unemployment must follow, and the weaker will go to the wall. Meanwhile the wise and kriowing housewife will see her chance and take it while prices are as low 7 as they are to-day. The rest will find that later on there is a shortage of goods, that the inevitable improvement in trade has started at Home (for when things are at their worst they must mend), and that prices have again started to r iso as they must do directly there is a new demand.