PHOTOGRAPHIC GOODS IN SHORT SUPPLYDEALERS’ PROBLEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1947, Page 4

PHOTOGRAPHIC GOODS IN SHORT SUPPLYDEALERS’ PROBLEMS

Because of materials being in short supply, a condition which has obtained since the start of World War 11, photographic dealers are still experiencing a difficult period. “It is very hard plodding and I am echoing the sentiments of others engaged in this business when I say that if materials were available the extra boost would make all the difference in the world,” said a dealer interviewed yesterday.

The shortage applies lo a large range of materials associated with tne photography business. Mounts have to be manufactured in the Dominion, and the manufacturers are so short of materials that the position is described as acute. Mounting board is unprocurable, and this shortage has been set down to the fact that conditions in Great Britain are very bad. Another factor is that ships are being held up, and thousands of pounds worh of maerlal ordered on licence is not yet available.

"During the war,” said the dealer, "it was possible to get supplies, but the position is worse to-day. Supplies of gas-light paper used for developing and printing work are received in sufficient quantities to keep us going, and there are certain grades of paper on the market.

The dealer added that cream base paper was becoming unprocurable and that the manufacturers were not going on with cream base as they could not get the base to make it on. Where previously there were 15 to 20 grades of paper to-day there were only a few. Ane particular factory is fortunate in that supplies of film and papei’ are obtained from a sister concern in Melbourne, but again, it is a matter of getting materials for them. Picture frames of any description are not allowed to be imported into New Zealand, and photographic dealers are dependent on the local manufacturers. Costs, however, are higher compared with pre-war days. “It will be a long time before you see rows of film in shops such as mine,” declared the dealer. "Returned servicemen have no difficulty in procuring licences for films, but they are on clover compared with others." Distribution of film is small, as the whole of New Zealand has to be catered for. It was stated that a quantity of British cameras was expected before last Christmas, but these had not arrived. The traveller, who was in Wanganui last October, had passed on information to the effect that he did not know where the cameras were, nor did he know when they were likely to arrive.

"I managed to get a few cameras," concluder the dealer, "but the prices of these are out of all proportion.”