TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1920, Page 10

TRADE WITH AMERICA.

DIFFICULTY IN GETTING GOODS. WORSE THIS YEAR THAN LASTThe buying and dripping conditions in America at present. are referred to in an interesting letter which a New Plymouth lirni lias received from Sydney (nerchants-. The letter says-.r—-"While many of our friends appreciate that deliveries from factory in America are bad, we. doubt if, as a whole, it is realised how serious these conditions are. In a recent letter from our New York offico the matter has been placed very clearly before us, and we think it will be of interest to our friends at this end.

"One of the greatest difficulties that New York is experiencing at the present time is to obtain from the manufacturer either a price or a date for delivery. As a rule prices are those ruling at time of shipment, and manufacturers tell us in regard to delivery that no time can be stated, and that it will be made when it is possible to do so. New York advise that it is fairly safe to predict that it is going to be much more difficult to get merchandise during 1920 than it was during 1019. This is particularly true of all steel lines, and, generally, manufacturers state that they cannot obtain anything like their requirements .of raw material. Shortage is likely to continue for some time to come. One prominent concern, doing a large business in Australia, have notified their representatives in all countries that they are cutting down all orders which they have received to half the qnantity stated, in order to be able to supply a portion of the customers' requirements, but due to the shortage of material it will be impossible to coneider the execution of the orders in full.

"One very important feature, which vvc at- this on<l must naturally fail to appreciate, is that strikes are so common as to no longer cause comment In the daily press unless they arc of great magnitude. Factory after factory is advising our New York office, of delays in execution of orders on account of strikes. Many of these are expected to lie only temporary, hut develop into . several months before settlement. The factory often advise our people that they expect the strike to end almost any time, showing in their opinion that the matter is not going to drag out unduly, but their expectations are rarely fulfilled, and this adds another clement to the question of delay in delivery." ■