A Smaller Range Of Luxury Goods

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 145, 22 June 1939, Page 9

A Smaller Range Of Luxury Goods

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS AUCKLAND, Juno 20. The effect of the restrictions on importations is now becoming apparent in a slightly reduced range of goods offering in some classes of shops, but it is chiefly reflected in luxury types of merchandise. However, the point is stressed by retailers that they have been carying large stocks of goods that must of necessity soon disappear. The most drastic cut on imports is for the second period of the year, which does not begin until July 1. When the regulations were enforced at the beginning of the year stocks generally were very large and big orders had previously been lodged in anticipation of the restrictions. Variations in Stocks. Even now some retailers hold quite large stocks, although warehouse shelves are steadily being cleared. So while some shops have exhausted supplies of some types of goods, or are running short, others are still able to supply fair quantities. In instances, it is admitted by retailers, prices have advanced, sometimes it is stated for the purpose of retarding sales so as to conserve supplies. "We have had women buying many pairs of English shoes because of the anticipated scarcity," said one footwear retailer. "Women often now buy two, three oi even six pairs of expensive imported shoes. For the protection of our own regular trade such form of purchasing is unwelcome."

Many persons have already changed tneir breakfast diet because some types of foodstuffs have either disappeared from the market or are difficult to obtain. Tinned iish of all descriptions are scarce in some shops, and a few brands have been sold out. Some imported cereal foods cannot be obtained. In most grocery shops a brand of popular imported beef extract cannot now be purchased. The same position applies to a well-known sauce and also to a vinegar that have enjoyed flavour for many decades. Certain brands of buckwheat flour are no longer obtainable at most shops. Shortage in Other Lines. English biscuits are running short, particularly health types, which cannot be brought from some grocers. One brand of rye biscuits is off the market and rye flour is not obtainable. There are -still imported cheeses, importations have been stopped. A scarcity of dried fruits cannot be attributed altogether to the import restrictions, as short crops have affected supplies of some classes. Many classes of luxury grocery lines come within the customs category, which has beeu severely cut. A typical example is an American sauce, very hot to the tougue, that is popular when served with oysters. The oyster season has arrived, but few shops now have this typo of sauce. American Cigarette to Reappear. Tobacconists report that the public is taking the interference with tobacco and cigarette supplies very philosophically, although a feature is that many persons obviously go from shop to shop in quest of their favourite brands. One popular American cigarette that had disappeared from the market will become available again near the end of the month, but apparently no arrangement has yet been made for the continuance of supplies beyond a certain period. Most shops are now out of South African tobaccos.

There is by no means as wide a selection of toys in shops as there was before tho restrictions. The smaller and slighter types, often of Japanese or Czechoslovakian manufacture, are not as evident as they were. Drapery stocks seem to be lasting out exceptionally well, but women complain that accessories are scarcer in variety, and more extensive shopping excursions are sometimes necessary to obtain the particular thing needed. They state that patterns from America are not present in so wide a choice in all shops as formerly. Nor are tapestry wools. Certain brands and types of cosmetics are disappearing. Jewellers seem to hold fair stocks of electro-plate articles, although supplies from Continental sources are thinning down. Chemists anticipate difficulties before long with some brands of patent medicines. Spare Parts for Bicycles. The types of retail traders affected are varied. A petrol station proprietor who sells various accessories instanced a scarcity of mutton cloth, used for cleaning cars, and also of insulation tape. A cycle repairer stated that many parts are difficult to obtain. The reason given was that, when importation of cycles was reduced, many distributors made up complete bicycles from frames aud spare parts they had in stock. He had just mado two unsuccessful atempts from wholesalers to obtain cotter pins—a bread-and-butter spare part line—before he could meet an order. The position with men’s mercery seems rather obscure. Some mercers state that customers have less choice with English lines than formerly; others say they are still comfortably situated with stocks. More New Zea-land-made types than usual appear to be stocked. FOREIGN FOOD SUPPLIES CUT SHORT SNAILS AND FROGS’ LEGS AUCKLAND, June 20. Many persons of foreign origin in Auckland who have been accustomed to obtaining special foodstuffs popular in their countries are already finding that the import regulations are affectiug supplies. Within a few months many delicacies that they favour will be unobtainable. Jn recent years there has been a big increase in the size of the foreign population in Auckland. Apart from Asiatics, there are now large numbers of Central Europeans, Scandinavians, Italians and Greeks, and quite a considerable trade lvas developed in supplying their special needs. Fish foods in various forms aro very popular with many Europeans. For example,

Italians favour an imported mussel prepared in butter. Snails have been freely imported, until recently, for French people, and there aro always large purchases whenever a French warship arrives. Suails are used a good deal in savouries, and many Auckland residents must havo tasted them, unwittingly or not, when entertained on a French warship. Tinned frog legs are also a delicacy the enjoyment of which in Auckland has been cut short by the license system.