NO LOWER PRICES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 95, 15 January 1921, Page 7

NO LOWER PRICES

POSITION IN ENGLAND PAST REDUCTIONS MERELY FROM “PEAK FIGURES” AMERICAN ANIMOSITY TOWARDS BRITAIN Although there is industrial . depression at Home, there will be no sensational and sudden decrease in prices. Humours of a sudden and drastic slump'’ "" are absurd." This is the impression of Mr. D. G. Patrick, of Wellington, who'.recently re- . turned tp Wellington after tin extended business trip to England and' America, during which he made many inquiries into things industrial. “Things are very bad at Home," he said to a Dominion reporter yesterday. “There is no disguising that fact; but in spite of all the industrial turmoil, any rumours of a ; sudden and revolutionary slump are nothing short of absurd. Labour in England seems to make a habit of dissatisfaction. It does not know, nor does it try to realise, what it wants. In Sepember and October of last year there was a slight decline in prices in the clothing and drapery trade, in which I am interested, but there is no indication oi any continuation of 'cutting* prices. As <a matter of fact, the reason for any. lowering of prices at all was that in many cases firms were overstocked with goods, and had to get rid of them. The manufacturer was not one whit affected, for it was merely his duty to supply the stocks to the wholesalers . - . .The excess profits tax is a bugbear, to the shopkeeper and warehouseman, and has the result of making him careless as to how much h.e makes, as long as he , qau satisfy his own wants. And it" is the tax that has been responsible for the 'cutting’ of so many staffs. People at Home were quite excited, when many ‘mushroom’ firms, whose life in business was short, decided to make their exit by means of inequitably reduced prices, but buyers for New Zealand firms with whom I came into contact are emphatic that f the manufacturer will not make his quotes any lower." ... As a result of his trip to the t<-.tile manufacturing districts, Leeds and ManChester, Mr. Patrick states that it is, impossible for the manufacturers to lower their prices. “They could n' t pu the lowrpriced stuff on the market, he added. . , Reasons for the Drop. “To the average business man,” continued Mr. Patrick, “the drop in puces that took place in some lines towards, the end of last year was merely the departure from the top prices. New Zealand buyers at no time bought at the peak price and therefore the reduction would only benefit the few buyers who were compelled to purchase irrespective oi prices New Zealand has been extremely lucky all through, in comparison to < Home buyers. . . .If Labour at Home would only settle down for, say, Iwe.ve months, stabilisation would come quickly. It is only the senseless tactics of the extremists that are troubling industrial welfare. In my opinion New Zealand workers are being paid exceptionally well. When the fact that in the drapery trade at Home workers are being paid practically the same as employees in tbe Itomtoion, notwithstanding the huge cost m living in England, is taken into consideration there should be less dissarisfariion here’. In England staffs are he-ng rc-c.ne-ed on every hand, and those who are employed work shorter hours than previously.” j Attitude to New Zealand. In the opinion of Mr. Patrick, England is desirous to "help the Dominion m every possible way. “England wants oui business,” he added, “and the general feeling is that be.r Zea land should favour British markets to American. ... One great handicap is the inefficient and totally irregumr mail services, both from England to the Dominion, and vice versa. Mails. when I was at Home, arrived sporadically, and nut business transactions hopelessly, out of gear. . . • One thing that New-Zea-land does not know is the fact that much German drapery is being dumped in England, and moreover, is finding eager buyers. Big firms all over the country aro purchasing from the enemy such articles as gloves, laces, hosiery, and ladies’ and men’s underwear. And the unfortunate part about the business is that the goods are not stamped Made in Germany,’ although th? manufacturers are big Hun firms. The quality of the German goods, however, is not up to pre-war standard, and the stuff is being relegated to the category of Japanese goods. ... There are indications that increased shipping facilities ' will be available for exporters, soon, and then there is every hope in England that a larger volume of trade than hitherto will be received from this Dominion." .Mr. Patrick paid a tribute to tho work of the High Commissioner’s office, which, he said, was “a veritable haven” for New Zealanders at Home. “America—Crestfallen!” "Much surprised, at her own plight, a sorry one, and extremely chagrined.” Thus did Mr. Patrick sum up the position in the United States. “Trade is absolutely ‘rotten’" in the States,” he asserted.' “Not in one'State only, but in practically every State in the Union is there chronic industrial upheaval, and in the textile, automobile and made-up goods industries, things are practically at a standstill. Houses are closing down for periods, and reopening with al Krat half of’the previous staffs, working only four or five hours a day. . . . Nearly all the industries are ieducing wages by about 20 per cent., and labour is accepting without a murmur. There is great dissension in the ranks of Capital ami. Labour on the subject of ‘open shops and ‘closed doors.’ and the employers are up against compulsory unionism. Strikes occur often, and I had the experience in New York of seeing tho start nnd finish of a strike which Was petty, in its aims. Even big railway corporations are included among ths staffreducerfl, and when I W(is at Pocatello, in Idaho, tho town railroad staff was reduced by one-third at very short notice. Dislike of Britain. “There is bitter feeling against England and anything British,” added the epeaker. “Fostered by a campaign in the Hearst Press, the animosity is steadily " growing, and the Irish question has been as a fan to the flames. The League of Nations is a subject that gives the aversge American every chance to vent his jealousy of Britain, and his remarks are very caustic! . , - America is beginning to really fear Japan. Anything Japanese is .banned, and the property laws are being made very strict indeed. The hurrying-up of the completion of a, bigger Pacific fleet is urged everywhere. Yet despite the feeling in regard to Japan.and to ourselves, tho United States is out for business and 'more' business from us—the almighty dollar comes' first!”