Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-14
TRADE CONDITIONS
 CAUSED BY WAR. Norwich Chamber of Commerce Gtt- ting in Tsueb With Larss Msrean- tile Hewsee.

At the request of Alexander Shar] of the Reid 6 Hughes company, tha the Chamber of Commerce get in com munication with, large mercantil houses in Scotland and England re garding trade conditions and trans formations caused by the world war the following correspondence betweel the Chamber of Commerce and Stew art & Mcdonald. Ltd, Glasgow, Scot land, has been interchanged:
 N, rwick, Conn., Aug. 6, 1917. Stewart & Mcdonald, Ltd. Glasgow
 Scotland:
 Dear Sirs:
 At the solicitation of our member. who are interested in the great retai trade problems in America and espe. cially in Norwich. Conn, I am writing you for information concerning 1tht effect the war has had upon retai trade in Scotland. While there are many sides to this question, perhaps those of deepest interest might be with regard to the help problem, transporta- and salable merchandise at ~prices within the reach of the average citi- zen, curtailment in buying in accord ance with above and a thousand and one other problems incident to the retail dry goods business snd that o1 general merchandising.
 ' Anyth .ng you may wisll to add tfat you feel will be of interest to our Re- tail Merchants bureau of the Cham Der of Commerce along mercantile lines l hasten to assure you will be deeply appreciated.
 Awaiting eagerly your reply, I re- main,
 Very truly yours,
 Secretary.
 Stewart H& Mcdonald. Ltd,
 Glasgow.
 
 Fl. R. Brsnche. Chamber of Commerce, Dear Sir:
 Replying to your letter of Aug. eth. we have pleasure in giving you what information we have:
 When war broke out. as this country had not medi -ated it fin the very least, and had not organized its affairs for war, bu- rather for permanent peace. the idea of war being imminent came upon us like a bolt from the blue. It was reaazed at once that we were in for some thing terrible. but as the coun = try had no similar experience within living memory except the Boer war (and ir the earlier stages it was not taken seriously. no one seemed able -o forecast just what the effect on business would be. To steady the financial position, as you are prob lbly aware, the banks were closed for lu1te week by order of the govern nent This gave everybody a shock lnd bew:ldere't them still more. It was loon realized. however, that people had 0 go about their everyday work, and lad to sat to live and had to dress. md the vast bulk of the yoople were 70 constituted as to continue to live usts as usual without thinking too leep1y of what the country was in for. Trade during the erst autumn. al- hough bad, did not disappear, and vas sufficient to keep things going on me mo:to that went round-"Business 8 usua'"-although dericed and de- iored in many quarters today, un- oubtediy served a good purpose for he first few months until 1t was seen ust what was likely to karpen. The esson that has been learned is that if vents move grdduaiiy human affairs ave an astonishing power of adjust 1ent in themselves. Our firm have iven no fewer than 300 men to the anks. If it had been suggested to us l 1914 that we could have done this, 'e would have considered the sugges- ack on women and on ineligible men ither from age or disability. and all ave done well. There have been cer- lin conpensations of course which l ave male 1t easier. Business is done l lore in bulk. The constant threat of l ae scarcity of goods induces people l Q buy seasons parcels. which are l elivered in bulk, and consequently are i lore easily handled. Customers also | re legs fastidious about matching and l hey seem to say to the customer "It l annot be got'' and the customer has content himself or herself with the ling available. This means that ! filing transactions are much fewer
 number. Goods, while undoubtedly 'arcer rfan usual. and while varieties ave been less, can still be had in lantity- Wholesale houses are still He'd with plenty Of merchandise. and one thing cannot be had another can, Id underneath and supporting all so r as tie retail point of view is con- 'rned Is the great wage bill of the 'untrys particularly the women's wage Il which, as is known, has reached iormous dimensions. and which finds ltlet through the retail shops of one nd and another. Women and chfi- en are better clothed today than 'er they have been in the country's story aud the peculiar thing about it ] that :Fey seem to delight in having good thing and in paying a fair price. , le material go deteriorated fin quality
 to be rubbish and the garment so rimp and cut down as to be useless ve disappeared from the market. and |, e better class of goods are entirely demand. The great increase in val s, added to this increased demand l s of course increa sed turnovers very -gely, with generally speaking ex- l1ent results. We have had difn- lties in transportation. but a little , tience finds 8 solution and it must 1 ways te remembered that everyone conscious t:iat real delays and dim lties are existant. and consequently n from patients. The task before t } Red Cross, which will be carried V
 by this and succeeding units, is