Trade Conditions In America.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1922, Page 4

Trade Conditions In America.

TIIP A l TO-MOBI RF. IN!) US’ i’ Y. ’lhe price of commodities in the United States, Mr A. R. a Christchurch business man who h w just returned from a three months business tiip to Amelia, told a reporter yesterday, showed a very ioiisiderahle drop compared with eighteen months previously when Mr Cropp was nil a visit to the States. I’rices had still to drop quite a lot, Mr Cropp added. before they reached the New /calami level; thaL wa- speaking generally: some tilings were cheaper Ml the States, a, lor instance, silks mnnufac.tu'yed in America. The price '9 foodstuffs generally was si ill fairly high, per a meal which in New Zealand would cost 2s, tin' price ill America, would he os. Rather interesting developments are taking place, or are about to take pi, ace, in the automobile business.” said Mr Cropp. “il is n recognised fact that the motor industry of America is over-producing despite the fuel that there are iff,ooo,ooo automobiles continually running in tho Stales; in Ro.s Angeles the ratio of iiiiloinohile owners is I in 3 of the population; in San Francisco 1 in I; and in New York 1 in li. ’l’liis fuel alone has been responsible for a big fall in prion. Henry Ford who recently acquired the plant which manufactured the Lincoln ear - one of the high standard i.ars of America—has reduced the pile of that particular car by 25 per cent., and has announced his intention of eveohially placing it on the market at half the cost. This will have Ihe effect, practically of making a lot of medium-pric-ed ears difficult to sell; and those in Hie trade are already discussing the possibility of coming to an arrangement wt ill the view of eliminating a number of present well-known makes. • There are so many ears on the market that unless the makers can keep the j prices up they will not he able to com-j pete against the Lincoln.” i