HARD TIMES IN HARDWARE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2886, 26 September 1916, Page 7

HARD TIMES IN HARDWARE

HOW PRICES HAVE "ADVANCED. A commercial man with agencies for somo of tho best-known English lines in hardware spoaks interestingly on tho manner in which prices for certain standard lines of hardware have advanced since the outbreak of the war, or more particularly sinco England became organised for munition-making, which was tho first real big check on the output of those linos ho rcforrcd more particularly to. Some months ago England put an embargo both on tho export and import of steel screws. The export prohibition was owing to tho large demand for screws for war purposes, but, seeing that was the case, it was difficult to reason why/, the prohibition had been extended to their importation into England. This was really owing to tho large quantities of screws that were being imported from America, and so monopolised cargo space needed for other lines. Tins prohibition did not last long, however, as it was found that there was a shortago of screws for war purposes, and the door Was once more opened to tho American manufacturers. . Screws, both steel and brass, have advanced about 80. per cent, in price in New Zealand, and aro by no means plentiful at tho now figure. Whilst this 'may ba considered a big jump, it is uot so great as the "riso" in hinges (gate hinges of the Japanese teo or Scotch tee pattern), wHich had gone up 120 per cent, during tho last two years. Another everyday building requisite which had gone up was sarking for roofs (or roofing felt), which had advanced 1)0 ■ per cent, in England. Somo of the raw material employed in tho manufacture of tho felt had advanced by as much as 200 per cent, during th© last eighteen months, so that tho market price hero was not ono that need surprise anyone in or out of the trade. Door-locks, from Willenhall and Wolverhampton, had advanced 70 per cent., and brass foundry, including door-knobs, had gone up GO per cont. High-grade Sheffield outlery, which could not but bo expected to advanco, bad been increased in cos.t between 45 and 50 per-ccnt. when it was procurable, but it was not easy to obtain delivery. Parts of some orders placed eighteen months ago had come to hand quito recently. A curious feature of this" department in the hardware trade was that given by a leading Sheffield firm, in a recent letter, which stated that tho orders from Now Zealand during 1915 were three times as great as thoy were in the year before tho war. The reason for that was that Tetailers were ordering two and somotimes threo times as much as thoy actually needed, in the hope of getting their hare needs, and still they had, in tho majority of cases, been disappointed. In the year 1914 orders wcro placed, with tho Lockwoods for no fower than COOO dozen of one-hlad-ed "Pampa" pocket-knives,- but of those orders only 300 dozen had boon doliverod. Asbestos roofing slates, red and grey, now increasingly popular in thh; country, had_ increased- CO per cent, in prico during the last twolvo months, and on the top of tliat,_ as in other lines, there was a substantial addition in tho increased freight and insurance to' bo paid. Enamol warn had gone up considerably in price, and was now almost ns_ clear to buy as aluminium ware, which had also advanced in price, and was in short supply. In viap- of the many advances m tho materials mentioned it is small wonder that tho cost of building has increased.