WELLINGTON NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16721, 23 April 1920, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

CROCKERY SUPPLIES. SCARCE AND HIGH PRICED. BI TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, April 22. Advices received by importers by every mail give no sign of any reduction in the price of crockery. On tho contrary, prices are advancing all the time. British crockery manufacturers intimate that they are busy and are- so harassed by labour conditions-" and tho coal shortage that they will not look at any new business for fully 12 or 18 mouths. In a private letter, it was reported that at one of Doulton’s Staffordshire potteries an oven full of goods worth £IOOO was spoilt for want of coal. Jajancse imitations of English standard'makes of crockery that cost Is 9d. to os to land here, cannot he obtained her now under 20s to 21s and very inferior imitations they arc, in shape, finish, and colour. English manufacturers are confining their attentions to their old overseas customers where they accept any orders at all, and do business on prices ruling at tho time of shipment with no guarantee as to the dates of shipment. A Wellington house this week received advices front an English crockery firm with which it had been dealing for the past 40 years to tho effect that further orders at fixed prices and fixed deliveries could not bo accepted. Advances of 1661 per cent on china and 100 per cent on earthenware wore reported. Further, certain lines of English enamelled ironware that cost £6O before the war were now advanced to £lB7. Other advices showed that buyers from all over the world were in England and about tho potteries, ready to pay any price asked. The Homo market of the United Kingdom itself was crying out for moro and more new goods. Advances up to 33 1-3, 50, 65 and 100 per cent, on different units of Japanese glassware were received by latest mails and the exchange rate of £1 sterling in Japanese yen is still against us. Taken altogether crockery and earthenware prospects are not alluring as to price. Everything seems to point to a return of German and Austrian goods to British markets if !he enormous prices now demanded for British, Japanese and American glass and chinawaro show no moderation. BROWN AND YELLOW IMMIGRANTS. From information obtained it appears that there is an undoubted increase in riio numbers of Hindus and Chinese who are gaining admission to the Dominion. Apparently there exist organisations abroad which are coaching theso men to pass immigration tests and they are succeeding in gaining admission in very much larger numbers than, before. There lias been no relaxation ef tho test and indeed it is most rigidly imposed by tho customs officials. It was quite evident to those who take an interest in such matters that if the influx is not greatly to increase the test will have to he made, more difficult, and this can only he done by an alteration of the existing law. Very few Japanese are coming to New Zealand. INFLUENZA NOT SERIOUS. Dr. Valintinc, CJiicf Health Officer, when asked for information concerning influenza throughout the Dominion said that there was nothing serious and nothing whatever to be alarmed at in regard to any part of New Zealand. At Christchurch the local Health Officer had taken all precautions to prevent the complaint spreading. There were practically very few malignant cases there and health officers who had had much experience of the disease during tho period when it ravaged the country saw nothing serious in the position.