DEARER CLOTHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 12

DEARER CLOTHES

RISE NEXT YEAR MANUFACTURER'S FORECAST HIGH COSTS OF MATERIALS EFFECT OF DELAYED IMPORTS "A very substantial rise in the price of clothing may be expected in Now Zealand next year, solely through the Government issuing third period import licences so late that Dominion importers missed tho market," said an Auckland manufacturer of women's clothing yesterday. Ho said that judging by tiio increased cost of imported cloth," artificial silk and woollen goods were likely to riso by 25 to 35 per cent, and cottons by very much more. "Importers wcro not allowed to order for noxt winter at tho usual time, tho end of last winter," the manufacturer continued. "Tho result is that we have entirely missed tho market, and many manufacturers in England will not quote at all. If they do quoto, however, their prices are greatly increased. This statement is based on accurate information, including _ cablegrams received from England in the last fow days.

"Thus, if wo aro to maintain our quality, which we are unwilling to sacrifice, and to continue to give tho public fair value for money, we have to cut down our output. That is obvious, because to buy the same class of goods at an increased price moans less material when tho amount that may bo spent on imports is rigidly controlled by the Government, Reduction of Staff "I expect to liavo to put off about one-third of my staff shortly after Christmas," ho said. "I have already advised some of them that I will bo unable to carry them all, as there will simply not bo tho material for them to work with when present stocks aro exhausted. I am not reducing staff before Christmas as wo have enough material to carry on with meanwhile." Some specific instances of increased costs of imported materials were quoted. The manufacturer said that one line was being landed until recently at 2s lis a yard, and it now cost 4s. This mado a difference of 4s 6d in material alone in tho price of a frock, and in addition there were the greatly-in-creased landing charges to be faced in determining tho retail prico, even assuming that the cost of manufacture did not rise, which was not definite.

Tho higher prices, he continued, were tho result of tho war, but tho New Zealand Government must accept the blamo for these prices having to be paid on third-period imports. If tho licences had been issued at tho proper time, importers could have bought at the pre-war rates. Rise in Woollens

"The increased cost of woollen goods is even more, because in many cases English mills which could have quoted three months ago will not quote at all now," he said. One instance was given in which a New Zealand _ manufacturer had had to bo content with 5000 yards of cloth less than his usual requirements, because of tho higher prices and the difficulty of obtaining supplies. It was emphasised by tho manufacturer that higher profits were not being sought in New Zealand. Tho rises in price which he forecast would be solely tho result of very much higher costs, both in New Zealand and in England.