NO MORE PAPER BAGS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1920, Page 3

NO MORE PAPER BAGS

famine threatened

“There is going to be such an acute famine in paper hags that a great deal of the shopping in the near future will have to be done with baskets and other receptacles.” This prediction was made to a Christchurch "Sun” representative by a merchant, who was pointing out that, in the near future, a famine in many kinds of paper was a certainty. Whilst the main trouble is concerning supplies of newsprint paper, supplies abroad are also closing down on orders for paper bags and other kinds of paper. The merchant showed, ns evidence of this a number of cancellations and withdrawals of quotations from Canada and England. In England, it was stated, it is impossible to supply the trade there—let alone export. At one time mills in New Zealand produced almost all the paper bags etc. that are required. They are now unable to secure sufficient sulphite pulp for the purpose and an endeavour is being made—but more or less unsuccessfujy—to get these classes of paper from Canada and other countries. The trouble is that the New Zealand mills have no machinery for pulping timber. In Canada the wood is ground and chemically treated into a sulphite pmp. The New Zealand manufacturers import this sulphite pulp and mix it with old paper tussock rags etc. From tins they manufacture paper for their special requirements.

DEAR DRIED FRUIT

NEW SEASON’S SUPPLIES,

Advice has been now received trom Australia that the new season’s Mildura j dried fruits which will be delivered dur-j itig May, June, and July, will show in-, creases from last year of 2d to 41 pel j pound. In addition, supplies arc going j to be scarce. I For Free Crown Mildura currants the , quotation, f.0.b., Melbourne is 91 per pound, as against 7RI last year, ami jl >d for Free Crown sultanas, as against 7d for the. previous season. So ' far, only about 25 to 50 per cent, oi orders are being confirmed, so that there is likely to be a grave shortage in supplies. American prices are expected to bo extraordinarily high, one quotation received being almost double ! that of last year’s.