COST OF CLOTHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17874, 3 March 1920, Page 6

COST OF CLOTHING

A .CHEERLESS OUTLOOK.

(From Oob Own Cobrespondent.) AUCKLAND, February 28.

The prediction of drapers over a year ago that, despite the ending of the war, tho price of clothing would not Secrease for at least two years was badly received by many people at the time, but time has proved that, if anything, these forecasts erred on the side of optimism. Not onlj has there been no decrease in prices, bul it is now absolutely certain that the coming season will brin<j advances in the cost of every line of clothing and drapery that may well strike despair into the hearts of those faced with the problem of clothing their families or setting up home on a meagre income. They will not even have the solace of the annual "bargain' sates on tho usual scale, for several of Auckland a largest drapery firms have .decided not to hold them this summer. As one manager remarked yesterday, it would be a mere fallacy, to throw away goods at reduced prices which cannot be replaced save at a much higher figure. Sales _ will therefore bo limited to the special pricing of a few " fashion ". lines for which quick clearing is necessary. In the opinion of a great English manufacturer, quoted yesterday by an Auckland draper, it will be from two_ to five yeara before there is an appreciable drop in prices. The manager of a local drapery firm stated yosterday that he had just been advised that prices in the catalogue issued a couple of months ago by a great British manufacturing house which had not even reached Auckland yet would have to be advanced 100 per cent. "We don't know where we are with orders nowadays," he said. " Quite often we cable Home an order from manufacturers' samples, and the price advances before it can fe confirmed. Only the other day we placed an order for a certain line at 3s 7d a yard, and by the time it was received in London the prio9 had risen to 5s 4d." The, adverse rate of exchange with America 1 is also seriously affecting the and local houses ar» dispensing with American goods rather thaa pay the exorbitant increase in their cost.