ENGLISH TRADE.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15266, 5 January 1920, Page 2

ENGLISH TRADE.

INFLATED PRICES.

Mr. Adam Paterson, of Paterson and Barr, Ltd., Dunedin, informs the London correspondent of the "Post" that he has spent a very interesting time visiting the manufacturing districts of the Midland counties, particularly Birmingham, SKpffield,. and The Potteries. Mr. Paterson corroborates what other New Zealand business men have told of the very great difficulty existing in obtaining delivery of almost every shade of goods. Tins is due, he says, to the shorter hours worked, and lesser output per hour, to say nothing of the evil effects of the war bonus, whir.h is still being paid to operatives. To show how such circumstances affect costs, Mr. Paterson gives the following'illustration in an every-day line, viz., cups and saucers. Before tlie war a. special line of these were invoiced at 10s a dozen, or 9s 9d after deducting 2£ per cent. Packing, freight,;-exchange, duty, and land charges, amounting in all to 110 per cent., brought up the price to 20s per dozen. To-day the same line is invoiced at 10s, plus 100 per cent., that is, £1. Freight, packing, and other charges now' amount to 130 per cent., making the cost landed m New Zealand £2 6s, instead of £1. Mr. Paterson says that, as far as he can see, there is very little hope of an improvement for twelve months to come-