HIGH COST OF PAINT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 165, 8 April 1921, Page 8

HIGH COST OF PAINT

A REDUCTION EXPECTED. Visitors to Wellington frequently complain of the drabness that pervades many of the streets, in business, as well' as residential areas. To a very great extent the charge is admitted, but there have teen extenuating circumstances to account for it during the last six or seven years. One with a wide experience of the painting trade in the Dominion says that paint lasts fresh for . a shorter period in Wellington than in any other centre, due, perhaps, to the force of the winds, the dust, and the quality of the air. Then painting and house-decorating cost was considerably enhanced during the war, and has remained high. There should, however, be some reduction in the cost of painting in the immediate future, as prices for white load,- linseed oil, sheet glass, etc., have fallen consiterably during the past quarter Here is what tho "New Zealand Decorator” says about the fall in prices:— "Tine price of materials is easier, and, compared with a few months ago, shows in most lines a fall. For instance, in the four main material lines, linseed oil, short glass, white lead, and scrim, a fairly farge fall is shown. In October of last year, according to one of the prominent houses, linseed oil stood at about 12s. 6d.- per gallon as compared with 7s. Gd. at present. This fall, of course, has meant serious loss to quite a number of firms. The scrim market is easier; the price for No. 0 now being about Is. 71d., showing a fall of approximately 71d. since October. The white lead market does not show such a largo fall as do other materials, and the indications do not point to a further fall, but rather that the market, will harden up durin" the course of the next week or =o. The price Inst October ranged somewhere between 105 s. and 905., while the range now is between 955. and 80s. per cwt Sheet glass shows a fall of from °5 per cent, to a third, and it is possible that there will lie a still further dirop, although a large fall is not anticipated.”