RISING FOOD PRICES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 7

RISING FOOD PRICES

WHAT 'INQUIRIES AT' NAPIER ; show, :; ';■;:; '-.=•. 'Byj Telejranh.—Special Oorresßondent.. ■■, '■'~[- Napier, August 24. • The first noticeable effect; of the_ war; .cu trade is beginning to make itself felt in Napier, principally in tbe direction of rising prices of foodstuffs. From exhaustive inquiries made by areporter ,'v this morning, it is pretty evident that tlio volume of trade, especially in connection with the necessaries of life (and drapory)> is practically, if not quite, , riormaf. ; One of the managers of a very large drapery firm said: ."Things are about normal. -When the war was declared trade slackened off -a bit, -but it . lias all picked upagaini; All - our hands are working the same, as usual, and there is no apparent; reason why trade - should not remain normal. :■. We are well' -satisfied." The grocery trade is also -,■ keeping well' "up. to the scratoh," though unfortunately many ;of the ■'■• prices of necessaries'in : this 'line have beeri-bumped up without any real justi•ticatiori. ; The retailers'appear to. be doing, all in their power to keep prices dowhjand have evengonei -eo far as to maintain the ruling values-at a loss to themselves. r This 'state jpf -.things, : : however,/.cannot : . last 'I6ng ; as, if ;the.. ■ merchants vMrsist.:.iri:thejr.':-demands,; •there "will, eWrtly' he a ■ rise' all round.- :■.- Th'o'"priceß' ; .'.which • ". fairly .large:stocks 'are r held;'have'been ■raised ve'ry^materially, suggesting:'that "'■'■ l there.,are...'spmeifirms.;who ;are; taking ;.of v th^, : war.■ to,'make,tlje re^,-, tailers Cthe' consumers) >rwy more-for: the necessities pf 1if0...- ■ '."' From-the following list it will be seen' that the problematical difficulty of get: : ting, -further Supplies has induced the" .merchants-to 'raise,the prices:—Flour. increased by £2 a ton. Baking'powder ■""(tins)" increased by.nearly 100 per cent.-. yUaisihs; currants, and* dates increased. " by :about\ one-third..\Tea_ increased Jd.; •a • pound.-: Sauces a'nd_ picklesf (import-, 'ed),.yery considerable increase, varying ■ According-to brand. ■ -Belgian ■ safety.;'matches considerable increase. A large number of other groceries have been increased and' it is not unlikely that the retailers will be forced to.'pass these increases on to their cus-' tomers before Hong..-: ■■!■■'.-'" '■'.<'■ '• '■:•'.;-.' Fa't stock is also rising in. value, and. •one butcher said''ho was : :now*, paying £2 per head .more for bullocks and 3s. .more for sheep. In-some cases Id. per lb., increase on beef has already, been ■ notified, 'and tho butchers are contem-. plating an increase in 'prices all-round. ''WeVegot',to put the prices up," said one butcher, "or. sh/nt down." The freez- . ing works/a-re buying all they can get practically at any price, and stook own: ers ''are''.- in consequence 'asking; absurd Cprices-for tlieif,fats. ■■ '":•■,. '■. , ; .V..:. _. ! ;. . Building materials have also increased in price. Iron has gone up £2 par. ton,. and white lead has increased £7 per; -. ton. ; .-.':./..."'..:...- '■'■-.':.