SOFTGOODS TRADE

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 42

SOFTGOODS TRADE

A QUESTION OF FAIR PROFIT. AUCKLAND, March 6.

The dominion conference of representatives of the softgoods trade .passed the following resolutions this morning:—" (1) That some sort of profit-sharing between employers and employees in the trade is desirable. (2) that the order recently issued by the British Board of Trade as a guide to tribunals, dealing with profiteering, was regarded as conceding what traders had all along affirmed was a reasonable profit; (3) that in deciding whether the price charged for any particular article is reasonable, regard must be paid to all the circumstances of the case, including not only the initial cost price of the article, but the current market price of, similar articles; (4) that as the retailer is compelled by force of circumstances to sell at a loss goods which have fallen in value, it is only reasonable that he should reap some advantage from a corresponding increase in the price where capital has been locked up in goods which have been in stock for some time and expenditure has been incurred in the storage of such goods." SET AGAINST GERMAN GOODS. AUCKLAND, March 6. The Dominion Drapers' Conference in Auckland, representing the retail softgoods trade, passed a resolution: —" (1) Expressing strong aversion to dealing in German goods; (2) requesting the Government to state its attitude regarding the resumption of trade with Austria and Germany; (3) if such goods are admitted definite words denoting the < country of origin be decided upon and rigid steps taken to prevent the admission of German or Austrian goods through other countries; and (4) that a much heavier import duty be imposed than is now enforced under the British preference clause."