CONFECTIONERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19980, 23 December 1926, Page 6

CONFECTIONERY.

Business in the confectionery trade has been quite good during the year, there being a steady and. satisfactory demand all the time, especially during the period of the Exhibition. The most important feature of the trade, so far as New Zealand manufacturing is concerned, is the making of chocolates. There is a tendency towards an increased demand for the article made in New Zealand, but there is still a considerable quantity of chocolates imported. The quantity imported has increased during recent years, but apparently the demand for this form of confection has improved in at least a corresponding ratio. The New Zealand makers have studied the art of attractiveness in packing to some purpose, and the appearance of their products now compares quite favourably with that of their competitors. Notwithstanding the high wages paid in the Dominion and the high cost of production generally, manufacturers are able to place goods on the market that compare quite favourably with the imported article, and they can do so at a considerably lower price. If the consumers could be encouraged to buy the New Zealandmade goods more extensively it would be all to the benefit of the industry and the country, because more hands would be employed and more money would be circulated locally instead of being sent abroad, while purchasers would not be caled upon to pay higher prices. Mora hands have been employed this year than formerly, and appearances point to a steady and probably slowly increasing trade in the future. The trade in biscuits has been steady with a tendency towards increased production. There are more manufacturers now than there were some years ago. but all the employees have been provided with steady work.