BRITISH TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1924, Page 4

BRITISH TRADE.

-CH I IUM.’.N AM) N.Z. C.1111.K ASSOCIATION

LONDON. April ”G.

Regarding prospects of trade generally. tiie “Economist,” in its monthly review, lakes a decidedly optimistic

The writer says: “Nervousness as to the trade situation, which was apparent a month ago, has disappeared, and given place to a tone of renewed confidence. Such optimism is a natural le-ult of rou’iinua! booking of orders and the stiadv absorption of workpeople into employment -e. process whidi reduced the numbers tin the unemployment insurance register b,v 1:!J:.!!:::> since thi- beginning of tlie year. This rate of improvement is cmisideied more ranid than cat be accounted for by ordinary ‘••-a--ona! changes, and it is significant that tin* improvement is even more marked in the index afforded by the percentage of trade unioiii-ts employed, especially liaise associated with Ihe metallurgical group. The output of coal, iron, and steel reached very high ligures it; march, showing a .substantial improvement even in pig-iron." “The wecklv trailh- receiols of the main ia.il-.vay. also show a gratifying in: rcase since the beginning of the year. “Th sari. - of ‘.tatislics which; I :reign tra.de return. This confirms' the ojeoici that an unusually large p r: it ■ll of th* work up 01 which industry is engaged during .March arose out .' Home orders, which have been considerably stimulated l:v the action of ih:* railway loinpatii;-.-; and the openin'm of the Trad-.* Eai iiities Am and oih-W 1 b.Veilllli.-11l 111.-usurer. It *s gi-'.i.ir,*.iug 1 1 it t!.*l the weaving ioe.es of Lancashire are beginning to show signs i.t tipnreeiab!:* improvement. Shipbuilding, however, remains thoroughly depressed."

Bi t TER. LONDON - . April 2H. The huttcr pe-ition is interr-ting. Brices lor i denial aiivaneed about 12s. a ewt. this week.-owing, nfr.ii ding in the ollieial report of the Produce Exchange. to “speculative buying anil storks being with-held.” It -'eenis that certain New Zealand factories have cabled instructions to their ngeiils here not to sell. (lonmiul at the reduced retail price■ ! Is Id and Is (id a pound, but retailers are i.ii-ing the price by twopence. anil this will probable curtail con.,inapt ion. Traders lolii'e-s that ihey are puzzled over the situation. One leading importing linn ivrties: "It is estimat'd that there are •!!)!).lidO boxes of bullet in cold store, and 20').!;fM boxes of New /unla' ! butter in boais in tlie river, and t i arrive before the cud of the month, as well as Australian and Argo,line; mill l hough we eonsidci

prices eania down a niohiii too soan. we thiol; the orosent is the wrong time in l lie interests of the producer to advance them. European butter is increasing daily, and Ireland will soon he sending its goad quantities. -■> wc may within the next month have another slump: but thi- is entirely dependent. upon the weather.