PRICES OF GROCERIES

Chronicle (Levin), 9 May 1947, Page 4

PRICES OF GROCERIES

Frequent Alterations Leave Public Bewildered Complete bewilderment at the frequent alterations .to prices for groceries is being exptessed by householders in Levin. The first indication the public has of alterations ta prices of* groceries, they claim, is when they state their requests and receive their change. "I pay a different price for some lines every time I nlace an order," said one compiainailt, adding that the nrice went -only one way and that was upwards. In spite of attempts to stabilise prices, ' the average householder had no idea what ruling prices wero today or what' they would be tomorrow. Asked to comment this morning, various local grocers agreed . that prices today wqre confusing, Their only notification of alterations were the receipt each week of lists of articles for' which .the Price Tribunal had approved an increa'se. These did not \seem to be made public, but the schedules were available for inspection by any customer desiring to do so. One trader exoressed surprise that the public had not re-acted sooner, but said that from his experience all lines of groceries were in such short supply that the public was thankful to get what they asked for, and did not" query the price. During the past t^vo years the prices of almost all lines had been raised, in somecases three or four times. The lifting of the subsid^ on sugar had had far reaching effects. Cordials had gone up and he anticipated that the price of cakes, confectionery and even beer might go up in the near future. Cooked ham had gone up 5id a lb., and as from Monday the price of raw ham had risen by 44 a lb. This. he believed, was due to the lifting of a subsidy paid- to the curers, ahd in a small way to the fact that sugar was used in the curing of these commodities. Changes in prices were coming tq hand daily, and it was anticipated that all soap powders would be subject soon to a substantial increase. Jam, which was almost unprocurable a few days ago, was coming to hand now, but with a new price schedule. The average fise was 11s a case, foughly 5d a tin. Grocers Disheartened' Most ' grocers - today were disheartened, said one retailer yesterday. Though trading conditions were good, many were "fed up and would be pleased to get out." Most lines were in such short supply that if they were not already rationed, unofficial rationing was necessary. Meagre allocations of certain lines made it hardly worthwhile carrying them. Some Of the shortages at present being experienced were the result _ of slowness on the part of the Price Tribunal in approving some rises. The wholesalers- or producers were left with such a narrow margin of profit that they did not consider it economical to touch them. Another grocer maintained that there was more behind the shortages of Dominion-produced goods. Staff shortage, he said, was the most frequent excuse, but he believed that in many cases there was more to it than that, contending that there was a certain amount of "raCketeering" going on. Many manufacturers, he claimed-, were deliberately holding on to supplies in anticipation of a'rise in price, or deliberately not producing. Jam, he maintained, was a case in point. "I have not received jam in this shop for ten months," he continued, 'lyet as soon as the increased mice is approved, we get advice .of future consignments. There will probably be any amount of jam available now. Surelv they can't have produced all that in a matter of weeks." Employers' Viewpoint If the principles of the Government's stabilisation policy had been faithfuliy adhered to the result would have been a greater measure of industrial equilibrium than existed today, states the annual report of the ManawatuWairarapa Employers' Association, which has been circularised to all grocers. An outstanding feature of the policy of the present Government in respect to iridustry had been to provide workers with greater opportunities for 'rest and recreation by shortening hours of work, and at the same time ensuring that there was no reduction in wages. Notwithstanding the crying need for greater production, that policy had been progressively promoted till today no hours beyond 40 per week could be worked, excqpt at penal overtime rates. • - The position had, now . been reached wh*re, save at overtime rates, no work was done on more than 240 out of 365 days- a year, combined with the general decline in individual productivity. Whether or not, concluded the ' report, it will be possible to maintain the economic stability of the cotmtry under such conditions rema;ned to be seen. ' , .