"Rings" in the Dominion.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13338, 29 March 1911, Page 2

"Rings" in the Dominion.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—A long special telegram appears in yesterday's Times, showing how Mr C. 11. Poole, M.P., is “raising Cain” over a certain combine of the galvanised hollow ware makers, to put up prices, These manufacturers’ headquarters are mostly in the South Island, but there is a combine very much nearer home that Mr Poole might hunt up—that of the dram pipe makers of the Dominion, which combine has been engineered from Auckland. Has Mr Poole any interest in mo Auckland Pipe Company? Their shares arc bettor than AVaihis.—l am, etc., AGAINST COMBINES. Following is the telegram referred to: (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND,' March 27. The member for Auckland West, Mr C._ H. Poole, has some strong comment to make this morning regarding ■ the action of certain manufacturing firms in forming a ring which, ho declared, would, if not checked, have the effect of ’driving the retailer into the arms of the importer. “Latterly we have been hearing a good deal aoont the position of our local industries,” said Mr Poole, “but in one direction at least we are face to face with a serious danger. 1 have good reason for stating that the galvanised hollowware manufacturers in New Zealand are, endeavouring the form a ring in conjunction with the wholesale houses in order to increase the present prices to retailers. I have seen some of the retailers of this city, and they declare that unless they agree to do business through the middleman (who scores heavily in profit by this new arrangement) they will be: compelled to import a large amount of material which at the present time is bought and manufactured in this country. | It would seem to me high time that some t stops were taken by the authorities to sec that the middleman, who ingthis case neither produces nor distributes, does not ruin the industry by compelling the retailers to import what is how made locally.” Inquiries made amongst large, retailing firms by a Star representative this morning indicated that Mr Poole has: not overstated the i position, and feeling is very high on the matter. One leading Queen Street retailer pointed out that the present list price for 18-inch iron tubs is 28s 9d per dozen. Under the new arrangement, the price will be increased to .'Bn; _ 3G-iiich tubs will go up from Jo2s to 1,59s per dozen, and so on per scale. The outcome will probably be the creation ot an import trade of hollow-ware. goods.