WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 545, 2 July 1920, Page 2

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES.

It has been painfully apparent that while the Board of Trade has spent much lime investigating selling prices of pols of vaseline, alarum clocks, and oilier not very important commodities, the real things that count, su< h .is clothing and foodstuffs used in enormous volumes, have not had much light shed on their buying and selling "prices. While making enquiries in regard to pillaging of cargo at Auckland, a reporter unwittingly supplied details of import prices, which are very interesting, and would probably bo much more so if the retail prices of the same goods could be ascertained.

For instance, 25 dozen pairs of children's stockings valued at *:l2 disappeared. Then those* stockings cost the firm a fi action over (Mod per pair, plus, of course, Customs and landing charges. Eight dozen men's hat:- disappeared, and ttlu-y were worth (is apiece. It would be interesting to know what sort of hats they were, i'he consignment of 3(1 dozen hats, valued at >;35, that went

stray cost just on 2s apiece, and

that might bo a good basis from which to start in computing the ad ded price paid by the consumer. The 51 ladies' coats were woith about three guineas each. The sports coats work out at <:1 5s sd, and the second

consignment at tl per coat. The 14 dozen :iats were valued at £SO, or, say, (is per hat: the five dozen valued at' t:22 equal 7s 4d per hat, and the 78 dozen missing hats were valued at a fraction over Is each. The above figures give a basis which the Board of Trade might work on if it is really anxious to find out whether or not there is profiteering in respect to commodities of an essential nature in general use.