TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1039, 1 August 1930, Page 10

TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS

NOT YET GENERAL EFFECT ON PUBLIC Although merchants and retailers are busy calculating the adjustment of prices the result of the increase in duty under the new tariff will not be felt by the public for some time. The only commodity which has been increased generally so far is tobacco, the prices of which seem to differ in various phrts of the city. The more popular brands, in many of the Queen'Street shops, will remain at fid. bringing them almost into line with the shops which formerly sold at cheaper rates. The drapery world just now Is a series of sales. Stock-taking is in progress and goods are being cleared at reduced prices to make way for the new season’s goods. At all events there will be no increase generally in the cost off imported drapery and women's wear until the spring, when the new season’s goods will be placed on the market. These will not arrive until the middle or the end of August. NO INCREASE HERE

Nor will the price of imported footwear be increased for some time. As far as the smaller sizes of children’s boots and shoes are concerned, there will be no increase, as they are allowed in duty free, and the 2 per cent primage has been abolished.

There will be no increase in the price of gramophone records, except those coming from America. Pianos and gramophones themselves will be increased in price slightly, but as the primage duty has been abolished the increase will be hardly noticeable. Books, which are duty free, will remain at the .same price. Although formerly primage was paid by the importers, this was so small that it Was not passed on to the public. At present many of the better-class books are being sold in Auckland at the English published price. This does not apply to ail publishing houses, but to those who desire to increase their overseas sales. MOTOR-CAR PRICES

Motor-cars, both English and foreign, must be increased in price. It is estimated, roughly, that some of the better-class American and foreign cars will go up in price anything from £2O to £4O. English cars will also De dearer, roughly, from £lO to £2O. There will be no change in imported groceries for some weeks. Fairly heavy stacks are carried, and when the tariff is ratified, it may be necessary to adjust some of the prices of imported lines. However no changes have been made, nor will they be for several weeks.

Imported perfumes and soaps and powders will be raised in price as soon as the old stocks are exhausted. This means that by Christmas-timr, the French lines will be rather costly, and that there will be a slight increase on English productions.