RISING PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1919, Page 4

RISING PRICES.

During the past fortnight or three weeks, several advances have taken place, and consequently buyers are Sugar has advanced in price 255. per ton, and though the price is much higher than that ruling the past few years, we have little to complain of as this commodity can still be purchased in New Zeaand at several pounds per ton cheaper than in Australia, America, or Europe. Several other kinds of staple foodstuffs also show a marked increase in value. Rice to-day is quoted at £35 per ton f.0.b., Sydney. Stocks held in New Zealand have reached almost vanishing point. This situation, in our opinion, is partly duo to tlio fact that the Board of Trade were responsible for gazetting the wholesale price and importers were not inclined to pay £35 per ton for it in Sydney, plus all charges to bring it across and sell to the trade at £3O, which was the gazetted price. However, this restriction is now removed, and it is anticipated that stocks will ho available during the next few weeks. Tho restricted railway service is hound to interfere with tho normal course of the Dominion’s commerce, and particularly those centres away from the four main ports. In the meantime it has brought an extraordinary rush of business in certain classes of commodities, and will probably he regarded as a record for the amount of goods handled in a given period.

All brands of colonial starch have again advanced in price, and in our opinion a further increase is likely. Rico, from which starch is made, is almost unobtainable, and this position will not improve until next season’s crop is gathered, nearly twelve months hence. Owing to the high price of tallow, all brands of soap have again been advanced, this time the equivalent of £l9 per ton. Tho price is likely to be maintained for several months to come.

Sago and tapioca prices aro now tbe highest on record. Shipments to arrive in Soptember-Ochobor will cost somewhere in tho vicinity of 50s. per cwt, and at this high figure it is safo to predict that there will bo a marked decrease in the consumption.