HIGH PRICES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 254, 22 July 1919, Page 6

HIGH PRICES

Sir _Is it any wonder that your correspondent "fair Play" complains about the excessive post-war ot lus balxudine knickerbockers when we hear ot woollen cloth of Dominion manufactuie, upon which no duty or excessive ireiglit nnd shipping charges has been paid, begins exposed for sale iu the best drapers shops m Christchurch, aud possibly elsewhere, at no less than 455. per yard, aud iii other cheaper shops at the greatly reduced price" of 21s lid. per.vard.' Such material will contain not more than one and a half pounds of »yool, supplied to our mills by a paternal Government, at live-eighths of a penny per Jo. over commandeer price of Is. Sid tor greasy, and if this does i;ot mean p.undor 1 don't know the meaning- ot -the word. I don't insinuate that the tradesmen named are entirely the gully parlies, but it is evident there are transgressors somewhere, and it ,'s the duty of tho Board of Trade, .to institute i searching investigation into l.he mainitacturer's .and mailer's pneo ot woollen mid leather goods, inauulactured wholly within the Dominion, and lj«Wish the result of their inquiry. Jhe woollen material alluded to is lor feminine wear, and possibly of a Mfihta texture than he garment referred to by 'Ism; Plu>, tho cloth for- which may be soiling at even more than 455. per yard. If tradesmen have been adding their pre-war per centimes to cover trade expenses on to postwar prices, they are, of course making double, and in some cases lu'blo, proht on every article they sell over the counter anil it is not therefore surprising that the cost of living has gone up by leaps and bounds. Ilow can the producer continue to produce at the limitedprice of his wares ;yhen,^ an » and tradesmen are allowed by the Board of Trade to charge such eiorbitjnt prices for clothing and footwear which pays no duty and is apparently retailed at the same price as imported and dutj-paid articles. The two prices ct cloth ho\ d ijcen identified by competent persons as of Dominion manufacture, and the retail prices arc stated, but I don J: know tiir- manufacturer's price or Ihe number of hands tliev have gone Inrmigh before reaching flu."retailer-I