The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1915. THE TEA MARKET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 95, 24 April 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1915. THE TEA MARKET.

When the last mails loft London the tea market was showing some excitement. Roving for weeks previous, had keen unusually active, and prices naturally advanced. The 1 Loudon Commercial Record states that it many years since the tea trade has] seen so much excitement, while prices have attained a level unknown within recent times. Not since the Indian and Ceylon Tea trades wore in theninfancy have such rates been jmul. The Record goes on to say: “In a large measure chi' present rise is due tn fears of an increase in duly from] Sd to Is per ih., and buyers are clenr- ( iiig tea from horn! as last as they can in anticipation of a change. .1 he tea duty last autumn was raided Irom 5d to Sd, and then there was a lair amount of tea cleared from bond, hut nothing like what is going now. Some people "take the view that in war time it is unpatriotic to take advantage of such conditions and make money at the expense of others. This view is somewhat .short sighted, as it must not be lost sight of that if people can make money they will do so, and not ask the permission of other parties. Another circumstance, too, is that the Government should he aware as to what is going on from their own officials. who are the recipients of the extra money being paid for the increased deliveries from bond. If the Government contemplate an increase of the tea duty, this is a matter that rests with themselves. They can put a stop at once to the removals from Ijontl by resolution in the House .if Commons. The . Government must know what is going on, and, they think of raising the duly, yet areauaio that thev are hong forestalled, then they alone are to blame. If there is no change in the duty there might he some reaction in the value from present stiff rates. Rut there cannot he much reduction as a large eonsunip-i lion of tea is going on, and the Go\ernment for months past has been a big purchaser oi tea tor the troops. Also there is a large export trade going on which may he greatly increased if the Dardanelles are forced, as Russia is in need of tea. for some time past Russia lias been a big buyer i on the Calcutta and Colombo markets, where prices for common tea are on a parity much above that ruling m London. From present appearances

the world’s productitfn is fulling behind consumption, and only a putting pu of prices to the sonsumer seems a solution of the present situation.” This to some extent, explains why New Zealanders find the price oi tea. has risen.