PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 11

PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS.

. THE OUTLOOK IN CHRIST-' . . .. CHURCH. ' - - - ' * -- - *. '. ' ' .' / From enquiries, made yesterday from several Christchu^ch , merchants, it appears unlikely that-the prices of foodstuffs will bo affected'for a few days,, at any rate nntil further $nd.. more definite news -'is received, from Europe, - though should thai news bo bad, it is " " practically certain that the values of ! certain commodities will rise. - ;'... Flour has already hardened £1 a ,:;,- ■ ton, but a prominent', miller thinks k -that unless the very worst happens,' .-, • we shall not .see this article of food at -- ; anything.that could be likened to l- 'prices. . - . p- - throughout the city'are J.-yevidently not going •to take more Vs chances than they can help, however, are laying in heavy supplies of [.- Sour to be ready for any rise that may i-..occur. - *■- , . ;,-' A "Press" reporter was shown the _. -crder book of a certain firm of flour:i ".'millers yesterday afternoon, and the -- "run on the bank 1 '-which is being made S'te, storekeepers was very graphically that volume. For example, -■. jta space taken up by new orders on > 'July Ist and July 3rd of this year, was ;-• barely one page for each' day, but ..-„ » Saturday last (August Ist) the space % taken.up by orders'was a good two '•>■■ Pages, aud yesterday, the 3rd, no fewer *;-*J[M» eight pages of the order book was .'.aUed with the names of those who - wished to buy flour. c "' storekeepers," said our infor;ffl_nt,. : "have started, to buy very "'*• an , d ** a matter <* the that have just .been received -- Represent practically the whole of the .-■-tour wo have in the mill, and we shall . t ...wo to call a halt until our stocks . - can be enlarged. '' ' ''Ffsonally," he continued, "I don't -' y • i?x.? sreat deal of importance to «.- tore little rush on flour, for very much - ; :-"f? e same thing occurred at strike ,- wme, and it is only a • justifiable pre- • .caution on the part of storekeepers to ■ -.-prcparo for eventualities." Asked' as T- to the likelihood of Australia ceasing c tbe exportation of flour to tho Domin- " -_ m S J h ? Mid he not think that . would happen, as Australian merchants '• .-f/tv under contracts tnat "lasted up " -till December next, and the probability ! _ was that everything would bo settled ' -. before that time. r , Tew merchants havo received cable- „- grams from Europe, or elsewhere, at '- preseni regarding supplies of differ- , eirt foodstuffs, and it was stated that it ■'■ b just a little early yet for information though it is expected that within the next two or three days a good ! deal of information will be'available *_*' sufficient is known now to show that it is nractically certain that busi- '? f ne ijft v«"'t"in lines will cense. wafti and produce merchants who *ere seen, state that un to the i Present they cannot conscientiously say tnat the war news has made any apI*Pent difference in the price of grain. . ine wheat market has been hardening j°*" some little time, but there has "' no TOS k husiness done during the }«t few days, though enquiries nave teea aumerons.