AUSTRALIA STILL IMPORTS, DESPITE OWN INDUSTRIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 3, 24 June 1949, Page 5

AUSTRALIA STILL IMPORTS, DESPITE OWN INDUSTRIES

First thing that struck the visitor about Sydney’s shops as compared with New Zealand’s was their impressive range of imported goods, commented Mr W. B. Topp, of Awakaponga, chatting with a Beacon representative soon after his return from Australia. Prices, where comparable goods were available here, were not much different for most things, except that certain lines of food were noticeably dearer. He was impressed with the greater vai’iety of clothing available, but felt that New Zealand retailers could hold their own on price level for quality. The type of suit men commonly wore here would run from 12 to 16 guineas, but lightweight 2-piece suits were available at about 8 guineas. Imported English dress suits (almost unobtainable in this country) were offered at £37 10s “off the hook,” and dinner suits at £22 10s. Things like shirts and pyjamas were commanding much the same price as here and, though there was a ' wider choice, there seemed little ence in the quality. Women’s clothes commanded some fantastic prices in the exclusive salons Building Costs

So far as he could find out, Mr Topp said, building costs per square foot were a shade better than in New Zealand and, generally speaking the completed job was better too in his opinion. Though there was a cement shortage in Australia, a big proportion of new houses were being built very attractively in brick and plaster, with tiles effectively used for verandahs and patios. High-Priced Food

Though he was not in a position to check up thoroughly, Mr Topp came back with the impression that a lot of every day food lines were dear in Australia. Prepared meals cost never less than 4/-, but that was perhaps not surprising with butter at 2/3 lb., milk 6£d a pint, mutton chops 1/9 lb, and eggs 3/3 a dozen.

Actually, apart from the butter and the milk, the prices Mr Topp quotes are not sharply different from our own, but. it gave him a shock to see dressed poultry offered at 3/9 and 4/4 lb. Some vegetables were cheap. For instance a bunch of celery “as big as an umbrella” at lOd, and huge cauliflowers 1/- each.

Industrial Progress Though labour was scarce and the power position bad, Mr Topp said he was amazed at the industrial progress Sydney had made since he was there last 12 years ago. He noticed, too, that though there Were many more Australian-made lines on the market, there did not seem to be any severe restrictions on imports, if shop displays could be taken as any criterion. He was very impressed with one of the new Australian motor. cars, Which was being marketed at about £6OO and had performance, comfort and appearance comparable with anything else anywhere near its price class.