HIGH PRICES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2387, 17 February 1915, Page 7

HIGH PRICES

COMMODITIES JUMPING UP. Some inquiry was made yesterday respecting the prices of thoeo commodities on whiclx the community depende to such e> vory great extent <iud for "which tn.6y_fi.ro at present boing asked to pay high prices. ■When Hour was mentioned to a local merchant, his eyobrows rose, and without any hesitancy he stated that he Wfl6 to quote flfi absolutely no flour was offering at the present time. "If you were to oner mo £40 a ton, I could not Rive it to you. said he. There were Brighter proepccra ahead, however, The Hornelen with a bift consignment of Canadian flour is due hero next week. Her lot will help to keep th« bakers going until the new seasons flour is ready. For oatmeal, £20' per top f.o.b. in the south was being asked. Oats wore down' to 4s. per bushel, but wheat was being quoted at, from fe. lOd. to 7a in the south. As much as £7 15s. and £8 per ton was being asked for good oaten ofifl.lt. Most of the farmers in tho north wero hanging out for tho top price. For oatina Us. per dozen f.o.b. was being delicti. 1 ollard was quoted at £8 ss. f.0.b., and bran .El Ut s -. Whole maize, ss. 6d. per bushel at Gisbome. As all crops are light owing to, tho unusually dry spring and summer, it is not anticipated that the, new season s stuff, now coming on to tho market, will see prices much lower than thoy aro at present, which means that the coming winter will be a bard one for those of limited means all over the Dominion. In addition to the pressure brought about by the shortage ,of grain crops, milk is highpriced; meat is away up. and peoplo aro cutting down their meat supplies as much a.ft possible. Leather is rising in price, fl.ud tiie cost of imported foodstuffs shows a, tendency to harden, all round as the result o! Ui* ww. <ui« tjio reiulwnt noa.aretasUTcatsfl is towse,