WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1920, Page 3

WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?

A QUESTION OF COST. A problem to be faced in the near future is wherewithal shall people clothe themselves, as prices of apparel, hats, and footwear are still advancing. Unfortunately, the outlook points to still higher . prices next «a.*oii (savs the Auckland Herald.) Gentlemen who wear Stetson velours will be interested to lecri, that the present retail rate of £4 to £5, which seems a high figure for a hat, is only about half what must be charged for any bought now for future delivery in Auckland. Latest quotations to band by cable are sue).' that, when rates of exchange are taken into consideration, the landed cost here will be so high that retail prices must rule about £!) each. "Only this week," remarked the head of one Auckland firm,"we got an order sent last November replied to at an advance of 50 per cent., asking us to confirm. We thought the price was high when we gave the order, and now to get the goods, have to agree to double it. A lot of fur that used to go for hats is now being utilised for fur coats." Asked what clothing was likely to cost if ha,ts advanced so much, the reply received was not reassuring, from a purchaser's point of view. Ready made suits are now fetching from £7 to £B, whereas in pre-war days, the price was about £4 to £5. The worst of it is, that top has not yet been reached. Next winter ready made suits will probably be £lO 10s, according to the present outlook. Worsted suiting is almost unprocurable, excepting at prohibitive prices. For real good tailor made suits of worsted, the figure is expected to reach as high as £2O. All woollen and cotton goods are still advancing in price. The rate of exchange ■ in. the United States and the East naturally adds to the cost of cotton considerably. Then, too, a lot of the best cotton is now being used in the manufacture of tyres for motor-cars, no less than 75),000 bales i»i«t HSJIWS &V, #** »Wjo*» lut xtu.