THE YEAR'S TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 18

THE YEAR'S TRADE.

EVERT SIGN OF PROSPERITY No one who has kept his eyes and ears open during the past 12 months will bo surprised to learn that the year 1916 has, on the whole, been a Very satisfactory one (or the retail traders of this city. On Friday sovcral members of the Times reporting staff got into touch with prominent men n various branches of retail trade, and these gentlemen were found in almost every case <o be well pleased -with the results of their par's work, and distinctly optimistic as to ut are business prospects. Most of them spoke of increased returns, and took the view that business has been steadily and surely improving ever since the shock it <jot at the first outbreak of the war. Thero was a consensus of opinion that the well-to-do trade has been falling off, and that the increased purchasing is being done by the middle and working class. In other words, the wealthy are spending less than formerly, while the working class, finding themselves with more money, are- using it moro freely than ever before. It is suggested that the rich are anxious to avoid any charge of extravagance and needless expenditure in theso days, and are also largely diverting their money to patriotic purposes. There has been a steady, though not as _ yet very marked, increase in trie proportion of women and girls employed in fihops. So far the problem of securing men can hardly be said to bo acute, but there is a feeling that shortly it will become bo, as the point has been reached when there are no reserves of male labour to fall back upon. Thero is a considerable increase oF girls in offices, but the movement to replace men is not so noticeable in positions' behind the counter. WHOLESALE MERCHANDISE.

Business has been well maintained, especially considering the difficulties that hav. arisen. Prices have continued advancing right through the year. The cost of materia; has increased in the Old Country, also the cost of material, such as tin and glass, for packing purposes. Freights have also fctoadily mounted. This has all conducei to an increase in the price at this end, anc must have increased the cost of living con sidcrably. Notwithstanding this, payment; have been well met. The merchant, th( storekeeper, and the consumer have apjjarently made up their minds that, after all wo aro somewhat happily situated in Nov, Zealand, and have not considered the exttv cost of goods to any extent. The volum of goods has possibly been somewhat affected, but the increased cost has somewhat compensated for this in the matter of turnover. The turnover has kept up, although merchants may not have handler] tho same quantity of goods. In dried fruits which sell over tho whole year, but have a particularly largo sale towards Christmas time, when the new season's fruits arrive. tho business has largely gone to California this season. A number of fruits, such as muscatels, almonds, and dates, have been arriving lately, mostly missing tho Christmas trade. Figs, which havo always been a very popular fruit, have been imported onl to a limited extent as merchants do not favoiu tho Californian article, and, of course. Turkish arc not available. Taking it

generally, the merchants are satisfied with the year's operations, though all goods now coming forward are being sold at a smaller margin of profit than was the case 12 months ago, when merchants still held stocks, purchased on lower markets. THE FRUIT TRADE. . Considering that «a large number of Otago's population depend on the fruit industry, a retrospect of the principal market of the province, Dunedin, will not be amiss at this time of the year. From the growers' point of view, it is recognised that the market has been uniformly in their favour. Twelve months ago prices were high, and this season values have been exceptionally good, and have even excelled last Novem-ber-December prices. 1915-16 stone fruits gave great satisfaction to * the growers of peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, and nectarines. The crop was a good one, but not exceptionally heavy, and if growers receive the same prices for this season's crop, which is anticipated to be a good one, they will have nothing to complain about. Stone fruit was followed by apples and pears. The price of pears was satisfactory for good dessert and good cookers. The apple crop right through New Zealand was expected to be a heavier one than it proved, and it is fortunate, from the point of view of the consumer, that the export trade to South America had to bo discontinued, owing to the alteration of the steamship lines trading there, otherwise prices would have been much higher than they were durinT the months from July to October. Tlv prices realised in the last few months, just before the Canadian and American applecame on the market, were a record —any thino- from od to 5d per lb —and those growers who had nursed their stock?, both at home and in cool stores, reaped a rich harvest. It is sometime beyond belief how the people can afford the high prices that arc nilinc. and it speaks well r or their spending power. The last report oi the Government statistician is to the effect that there are now 50,000 acres in New Zealand in orchard. A large part of this area is in Central Otago. T/arge quantities of fruit trees have been mported from Australia and -lie North [gland, and planting out has been carried out on a large scale. Rome Dunedia citizens have great faith, and rightly so, in the

esults to be secured by supplying water o arid districts. Both the Fruitlanrls Coin-

any at Bald Hill Flat and the Cromwell Development Company have large areas to ork upon, and within the next few years ill these lands will.be brought under irrigation, as it is apparent that for some years to come there will be no limit to the export trade. Apples constitute the bulk of he fruit planted out. DAIRY PRODUCE.

During the year the price for cheese ■.vent up as high as This was a phenomenal rate, owing to the demand at Home At present prices rule about lelivered, at factory weight, for consumption. There was a big and consistent lemand throughout the year at satisfactory prices. It is evident, therefore, that the dairying people havo had " a good time." 1 )n tho other hand, of course, there havo been heavier expenses. The factory manager, for instance, has 3iad more for labour, material, and requisites. Last year rennet was £4 a ke<r (1001 b), and to-day it -i £35. Butter producers havo also had a atisfactory year. Prospects are bright for hoth cheese and butter producers. • 'There is a big future in front of New Zaalajid

for dairying,'' said one authority; "in fact, dairying is only in its infancy, and at present everyone connected with it is doing well."