HIGH PRICE OF FOOD IN SYDNEY.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 81, 23 May 1902, Page 4

HIGH PRICE OF FOOD IN SYDNEY.

THE EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT The Sydney Morning Herald of April 28th says : .-■For.some time past breadwinners and householders have viewed with consternation the gradual but persistent rise in the price of food of all description, and those of small incomes have been forced to exercise a restraint upon their expenditure, which under the easiest conditions had to be carefully controlled. All this is in a great measure attributable to the severe drought that has been experienced during the past seven years, augmented by the higher prices extorted under the new Federal tariff. Meat, for instance, has greatly increased in price. Prime bullocks are fetching an average price of £l2 ; but, as a prominent stock agent put it, a much higher figure will be realised before the winter is over. He wept. ,pn to say that the cattle were in a generally low condition, and it was only in isolated cases where fairly good beef could be procured. The majority of bullocks were dangerously poor, and in many instances stock was dying in great numbers, In the present visitation there have, been but few reserves to fall back upon, aud the utmost difficulty has been experienced by stockowners in saving valuable 'breeding stock. “In that connection,” said a gentleman well qualified to an opinion, “as much as .£3OOO per week has been spent upon a single, station owing to the high price of fodder. A number of stations expended over £2oop pet- week, ano on pH hands big efforts were being made to 1 sate the breeding stock/’ - - • The same’ remarks apply to sheep, which on all hands, show a tert-ible wanp of condition, but owners desirous of getting, a cash return sent, them to the market in so low a condition.as to be o <ly suitable for boiling down or ■ preserving. With meat high there should be some compensation in other directions’ but at the piesent time it is not so High prices r ule generally, and I fy tire position. Turn to bread, the staple of life, and it is found that the price of flour has risen during the past 12 months from L 5 15s to L 8 15s or £9 5s per ton, and during the last month there has been a rise of £1 per ton. Wheat, which during last year was selling at 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel is now fetching 4s 3d to 4s 6d per bushel, having almost doubled in price. Bread is generally being sold at 3d the 21b lo»f, but with a steady increase in the pr ice of flour, a corresponding advance in the price of bread must follow. Potatoes, which in 1901 could be purchased at from £2 17s6d to £3 per ton at the present time cost £5 10s per ton wholesale. With regard to o rions, a large increase in price is also noticeable, the present price being £8 10s a ton as against L 6 15s a ton last yen;. The wholesale price of butter is now Is 3d per lb as against 9d and lid pei lb last year, the result of an unusually drv season. The present, price is, however, lower than it was quite recently when the sum of Is 6d was demandec for butter of varied and doubtful quality, but no sooner was that known tc holders of butter in other States thar large quantities found their way inti the market. The cheerlessness of the outlook i added to when one glances at the higl prices ruling in other directions , Bacon, which in april last year wa j selling at 7d per lb, is now realism, 9d per lb, a id there is an increase' pHce demanded far hams. E.cgs ar , xlightlv dearer, while cheese isfetchin 8d and 9ct per lb, as against 5d and 6

last-y&ar. Poultry stands at mudhth'e same figure.as rulgd during 1901: Milk has been steadily increasing in price owing to the rise in the price of fodder, arid is now sold at 5d per quart, with a tendency to a further advance during the winter months. . In turning to the quotations of fodder it is atoned advances in prices are genera 1. Maize, which in 1901 sold at 2s 6d to-2s 7d per bushel, now sellf at 4s lOd per bushel. Pollard has risen during the past 12 months from 8| to Is 4|d per bushel, and bran has risen 2gd per bushel. Hay, (oaten), which in 1 901 could be purchased . for about £4 per ton, is now quoted at <£6 15s to £7 7s 6d per ton, and lucerne twelve months ago realised £2 7s 6d pei- ton, whereas, to-day it is selling at £7 per ton: Unfortunately the recent rains have not been sufficient to have much effect in lessening the prices.