"WORSE THAN WAR"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 10

"WORSE THAN WAR"

DELAYED ORDERS

BRITISH MERCHANTS' LETTER

An interesting comment on trie muchdiscussed difficulty experienced in having orders filled in Britain is given in a letter sent to clients in Wellington by Messrs. W. A. Sparrow and Co., Ltd, a London firm of merchants and si}!,1 ping agents. / "We have for many years issced a monthly'price current, and rrr.d^ some attempt to prepare one this month.but gave it Up, the reason being that there are so many lines for which no quotation can be obtained, unless there is a definite specification," says the letter. "This is particularly the case in connection with steel goods. Supplies of raw materials are much restricted, and it is very difficult even to place orders. We have orders on our books for steel that are now months old. We have also several orders that are weeks old, but cannot yet be placscl. One manufacturer, writing us this morning, says: 'We are stuck for material—it is worse than during tha war.'

"The position on the" Continent is just abcut as bad as it is over here. Another feature which reminds us of the war time is that many works, if they accept an order, stipulate that the price must be that which is ruling at time of delivery. We have also found a number who have said that if they can deliver by a certain date, today's price will hold; but if they find themselves unable to deliver so early, the price will have to be that current when delivery is made. "The Board of Trade Journal states that the increase of 3.3 per cent, in the average of wholesale prices in March was the largest recorded for any month since the upward movement began in June last. Since that month all materials and manufactures have risen continuously. While we do not favour rash speculations, it is nevertheless our considered opinion that our importing friends would be wise to anticipate their requirements as much as possible.

"We have a very significant circular from Guest, Keen, and Nettlefords. Ltd., the summing up of which is that they are so short.of materials that for the present they cannot accept orders for iron or brass wood scr;ws for markets other than those in the British Empire unless they be for Government Departments or any companies where contracts exist."