CLIMATIC CHANGES

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

CLIMATIC CHANGES

AUSTRALIA’S MILD WINTER. Visitors from the other side invariably complain of the scarcity of Australian News. New Zealanders when they visit the great Commonwealth have a similar complaint to make about the lack of New Zealand news that appears in the Australian papers. We occasionally read that Australia is experiencing a drought. This news does not .convey much information expecially in a land where there is no scarcity of water. Mr A. L. Walker, of the Progressive Stores, has something more to say of the Australian climate. He has just returned from a visit to Melbourne and Sydney, whither he went to visit the numerous woollen mills. During his short stay he availed himself of the opportunity to inspect the huge stores and warehouses in Victoria and New South Wales. This year has been a disastrous one to the soft goods trade. The absence of rain has prolonged the Australian summer and the women folk are still wearing silks and cottons while we in Southland are glad to wear wool. While in Melbourne he was being shown over the large warehouses in Flinders Lane and the departmental heads were complaining that their winter goods i were not selling. Mr Walker ever on the scent of a bargain offered them a price to clear certain lines which he knew could I be sold in Southland and to his astonishment his offer was accepted. These goods j have arrived by the Moeraki and are now , being opened up. A few quotations will I give the women folk an idea of values. | Check worsted, all wool,, 54 inch wide, the I wholesale price in Australia ran from i 6/- to 15/6, these will be sold from I 2/11 to 4/11. In dress goods for which the I Aussies were asking 16/6 will be sold for | 5/11 a yard. One may be inclined to i wonder at the Melbourne merchants getting ! goods at these reductions but it is the old story of clearing out departments to make ready for the spring goods, and a buyer I who comes along with the hard cash and ' more especially a buyer from overseas, gets the plums. It is fortunate indeed that Mr Walker made this trip to Australia; he has not only increased his knowledge of his own business but he has certainly got hold of some dainty goods at very tempting prices.— (Advt).