“WORSE THAN WAR”

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 454, 11 June 1937, Page 2

“WORSE THAN WAR”

DELAYED ORDERS British Merchants’ Letter An interesting Comment on fthe much-discussed difficulty experienced in having orders filled in Britain is given in a letter sent, to clients in Wellington by Messrs.' W. A; Spa-nyow and Co., Ltd., a London firm of merchants and shipping agents. “We have for many years issued a monthly price current, and made some attempt to prepare one this month but gave it up, tbe reason being that there are so many lines for which no quotation can be obtained, unless there is a definite specification,” says the lett/er. “This is particularly the case in connection With steel goods. Supplies of raw materials are much restricted, •amd- 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 placed. One manufactures’, waiting us this morning, says: ‘We are stuck for material—i)t is worse than during the war.’ k “The position on the Continent is just about as bad as it is over here. Another feature which fc’eminjls us of the- war Uime 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 th alt if they can deliver 'by a certain date to-day’s price will hold; but if they find themselves unable to deliver so early, ‘the price will Wave 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 monllh since the upward movement began in June last. Since that month all materials and manufacturers 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 Ithe present they cannot accept orders for iron or brass wood screws for markets other than those in the British Empire unless they be for Government Departments or any companies where contracts exist.”