TRADE GOOD.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18413, 20 June 1925, Page 14

TRADE GOOD.

OPTIMISTIC BUSINESS HEAD,

(arECIAL TO "THE TRESS.")

AUCKLAND, Juno 10.

Choorful tidings wcro contained in the conversation of the head of a big Auckland business houso to-day. "Trade is good," ho said. "We aro experiencing an excellent winter. Prices liavo not come down much during tho past 18 months. Our catalogue is much the same as it was last year on the average. Some things aro going up a little and some down. "The purchasing power of tho public seemb remorkabi.y good. Our takings last month were £i!000 more than thoso of the sanio month last year. A notablo fact, as far as our tailoring department is concerned, is that men are going in for most expensive suits, neglecting cheaper suits which aro yet good value. Tho same thing applies in the women's wear department.. The best woollon underwear is solccted; in fact, tho best of everything. "1 will give you an instance. Last month wo auvertised two lines of ladies' overcoats, one at 29s and tho other at 655. Tho 29s line was an absolute bargain, splendid value, but the 65s lino was sold out before we had disposed of half of the cheaper coats. That shows you that people will have tho best, and will pay for it.

''Another instance of the fact that there is plenty of money about is that purchasing is by no means confined to necessities. Our biggest increases are i,n tho sales of such things as pianos, gramophones, and high-class furniture. "Tho wet weathor experienced recently was a great set-back to trade, and tor a couplo of weeks the bottom was knocked. right, out of business in town. (liVeryono was suffering. Yet, despite this reverse, as I told you, our takings' for the month were £2OOO more than was tho case last year. "What's tho reason of it? Well,'l. think that there aro a lot of peoplo in New Zealand, and particularly about Auckland, with plenty of money, and I think tho lifting of the moratorium has released a lot of it, though it may havo brought hardship to a few. L think those hardships were generally surmounted, and in any case it brought welcome finality. And it seems most certainly to havo brought about an era of stability. There is more money being deposited in tho banks than ever before in recent years. Farmers seem secure, for they aro spending money much more freely. It is a good thing to see that they are catering well for the comfort of their cattle. Tho sale of horse and cow rugs is exceeding all records, and largo purchases of new harness are being made. When you see farmers buying new harness you know that things art, well with them. "I think that we have finally got over tho period of depression and have entered upon a period of stability and prosperity which will endure."