HARDWARE PRICES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12705, 7 March 1912, Page 3

HARDWARE PRICES.

RISING STEADILY ALL ROUND

(Special to tho Herald.) DUNEDIN, this day. Tlie wholesale prices of hardware of almost every description have undergone advances varying from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, since the year 1912 began, and it is quite possible that further advances will take place before long. The rise is almost certain to be permanent The price will not drop back because it has been altered m consequence of what the business man calls a. "basis" increase, which means an increase m the cost of production. "Never m the whole course of my business career," said a large importer to-day, "have I known such a- succession of increases. They embrace practically every line of hardware goods, iron and steel, 'copper, brass, and, even pottery and chinaware." I He exhibited a list of lines m which j Home advices, received at various times up to a month ago. indicated advances varying from 5 to 10 per cent. The list was long and comprehensive. The merchant pointed out that, m addition to the increases on cost price m Britain has to be added a further percentage on that increase to cover increased buying commission, insurances, and. m many cases. ' ireight. |

[ "You may take it as a geneiai rule." lie said, "that for every £1 increase m Britain the equivalent is £1 2s. It seems that we m remote of tinearth are beginning to pay bur share of the cost and concessions connected with the railway strike m Britain. Even where wages m a particular manufacturing industry did not go up as a result of that upheaval other expenses of production appear to have done so. Increased railway freight to the port, it seems, is by no means the only additional burden the manufactured article takes with it into the ship's hold. Therefore it appears there is every'justification for the term 'basis' increase, and for the belief that prices have gone iip to stay up, and perhaps to go up further. He is a sanguine importer who does not expect the coal strike to add yet another 'basis' increase. This applies particularly to hardware, the coal and iron industries being so very intimately linked. If' the railway strikes resulted m merchants' bar iron advancing 10s a ton (equal to about 8 per cent.) it is not unreasonable to suppose that the coal strike will result m a furthe*.* advance."