PRICE ADJUSTMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 12

PRICE ADJUSTMENT.

THE ELECTRICAL TRADE, RATES FOR LAMPS AND CABLES. MANUFACTURES IN BRITAIN. The changes in prices for electric lamps and cables wero discussed yesterday by an Auckland trader. Ho said the position regarding lamps had resulted from a fight between the British manufacturers' agents and the retailers. The agents had been in the habit of importing lamps, and selling them to the public at wholesale rates. The electrical retailers replied by selling lamps at cost price, and there then followed a position when no one was satisfied and the trade got into an unsatisfactory position. The present retail prices for lamps were substantially the same as they had been for a very* long time, and no material changes had taken place since matters were adjusted in the trade. So far as the Government, local bodies, and the trade were concerned, the position was the same as it always had been. Even now any trader could buy makes of lamps which were not affected by the arrangements complained of. The retail price of lamps in Britain was in some cases higher than that in New Zealand, without taking into consideration tho customs duties. Tho position was different as far as cables were concerned. For many years cables had been sold at prices very little above cost, and the profit was merely nominal. In October prices for cables advanced 33 1-3 per cent, in Britain, and that was followed by a corresponding advance by local agents, who at the same time protested against the increase. In : reply the British manufacturers said they had been asked by the Government to maintain the trade for various reasons, but the trade could not be continued if a reasonable return was not made. It was stated yesterday that- if the prices charged by manufacturers proved to be unreasonable, it would simply moan that facilities would be given to foreign manufacturers to sell their product on tho New Zealand market.