MERCHANDISE.

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

MERCHANDISE.

Merchants report that business during the past 12 months has not been so good as it was in 1925. This was, may be, only to be expected, in view of the falling away in trade following on the closing of the Exhibition. As a matter of fact, merchants complain that during the latter part of the Exhibition trade was not as good as they had expected it would be. The coal strike at Home had some effect on local markets, as a certain class of goods did not come forward and sales were thus lost. The loss of the Port Kembla considerably inconvenienced Dunedin merchants, as a long time elapsed before merchants were able to ascertain if their goods were to come to hand or not, and whether they would have to repeat their orders. The goods, however, did not coma forward. In the early part of the year importers were seriously handicapped by the unsuitable steamer service between Australia and Dunedin, and suffered, in the arrival of their goods, as compared with the service given to North Island .merchants. The service during the later months improved somewhat, but it could still show a considerable improvement. The shipping service between Auckland and Dunedin could also be improved, and thus put local merchants more on a footing with their northern competitors in the speedy handling of goods from their arrival in the Dominion to merchants’ stores. Delays on th« *Bt in the transport of goods handicap 'tunedin merchants most unfairly. The principal alteration in price duririp, the year relates to sugar value*. In November, 1925, the quotation stood at £2O 10s, f.0.b., Auckland, for lA. This month the quotation is £23 10s, f.o.b. It is noticeable that as the years go on the demand for Mediterranean and Californian dried fruits is growing less. The quantity of figs, for instance, coming forward aro smaller than in previous years. Dates continue to have a good demand, and a considerable quantity has been landed from the Persian Gulf. Jordan almonds, for which at one time there was a considerable sale have not nearly the same inquiry, and the same state of affairs applies to Malaga muscatels, which have been to some extent replaced by Californian muscatels. Smyrna sultanas have been almost entirely replaced by _ Australian, which are considered by the New Zealand retail trade to be much better and more satisfactory to handle. Canned fruits, which at one time were almost entirely imported from California, are now being principally supplied from Australian canners. As regards the canning industry the most important transaction during the year was the taking over control by Henry Jones and Co. of the “K” Company and Thompson, Hills, and Co. Henry Jones end Co, now practically control the canned fruit trad© of Australia. The control, so far as can be ascertained, is not making any difference to the trade in New Zealand. Of course there has been an ordinary trade in what may be termed the “bread and butter lines,” but here again the turnover has not been as good as in 1925. Merchants have found during the year a little more difficulty in getting their accounts settled, money, especially in the country districts, appearing to be very "tight.” This is no doubt due to the lower prices ruling for the primary products and also to the late season. The retail grocery trade has had the same experience as the wholesale houses, in that trade has not been as satisfactory as test year. Price-cutting, however, has not been verv evident, but it mav be remarked that in some of the northern towns. Wellington, for instance, it is verv severe. Otago grocers, too, are finding that it is pot so easy to collect their accounts as previous!*.