BUSINESS BRIGHTENING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 10

BUSINESS BRIGHTENING

OPTIMISM IN THE CITY BUILDING TRADE REVIVING "SPRING OFFENSIVE" IN SHOPS Support for the belief that a better tono is developing in business can be found in numerous fields of unrelated activities in Auckland, and, stocktaking completed, many firms are launching their "spring offensives" in a bolder and more confident spirit than they evinced last year. Optimism is becoming more robust as the days lengthen and tho signs of improving conditions accumulate. One of tho most cheerful men in Auckland yesterday was a partner in a suburban joinery business. "There has been a great improvement in our trade in the past few weeks," ho said, "and our factory is now working on Saturday mornings. Orders from tho country aro remarkably brisk. Timber is required, particularly for tho erection of new cowsheds and fowlhouscs, and in the past, week wo havo had orders from as far afield as Ilikurangi in the north to Te Kauwhata in tho south for those particular classes of jobs. The encouraging featuro is that thoso placing the orders are mostly in a position to pay spot cash. Suburban Building "There aro also definite indications that a revival in building in tho suburban areas is beginning, particularly in tho eastern suburbs like St. Heliers wd Orakci. Our business correspondence also shows that other parts of the Dominion aro responding to tho better outlook. Building in Invercargill, for instance, is said to bo very active." Tho manager of a soft goods, warehouse, with ramifications throughout the Dominion, expressed the view that Auckland would emerge from tho depression quicker than most other provinces. He thought the spirit of enterprise was more acutely developed in the north. His travellers had been sent to the provincial centres last week with the new season's samples, and it was believed that the order-books returned during the next few weeks would reflect in material form the optimism which at the moment was mainly psychological. New Zealand woollen mills have had a fairly busy season. Tho knitting craze,which began about a year ago, has not yet spent its strength, and the demand for "made-up" woollen goods has been steady. Judicious Spending "Business has been quite bright in the cheaper lines," said the director of a largo drapery firm. "Competition in that field, of course, is exceptionally keen, but tho shopping crowds abroad to-day indicate, at least, that there is still money available for judicious spending. Just now wo are between seasons, both in town and country. Tho farmer is short, of funds bccauso his cheques this month are among the smallest of tho year. However, with tho payment of his bonus chequo next month and tho opening of a new dairying season under favourable climatic conditions, there should bo a general brightening in trade." Tho words of an old hymn, "Raiso the standard high and keep tho peoplo cheerful," wero quoted by tho manager of a clothing business. "I am no unqualified optimist," ho explained, "arid wo havo a long road to travel before we cniergo-from our. troubles. , Nevertheless, one can regard tho signs of improvement now discernible as distinctly encouraging. We aro holding our own, on a sales basis, with tho position a year ago. Tho rectot firming of tho produce markets gives wings to our hopes. A Jittlo clearer evidenco that the trend is definitely upward must result in a loosening of the purse-strings to allow expenditure on numerous lines, the purchase of which has beon deferred until the outlook brightens-''