PAINTS AND OILS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1919, Page 3

PAINTS AND OILS.

NO REDUCTION IN PRICES, The conditions prevailing in the painting trade and in the white lead and linseed oil industries, by which it is directly affected, make it a practical certainty that the price of paints and oils will not only show no reduction during at least the next 12 months, but may tend to increase during that period (says the Auckland Herald). Before the war the main source of the world's supply of linseed oil was the Baltic provinces, but none has been received from these parts during the past four year 3. Other countries producing linseed were India and the Argentine, and practically the whole of the supplies received by Britain and the Overseas Dominions during the war have come from India. Advice has just been received in Auckland that the influenza epidemic in India has taken a particularly heavy toll of linseed producers and workers, and as the sowing season is now at hand, planters will have difficulty in securing an adequate supply of suitable labor, and it is anticipated that, next season'-; output will in consequence be considerably reduced. Owing to the perturbed state of the Baltic provinces it is considered highly improbale that linseed oil will be available from this siource for at least 12 months. These facts have led to the belief that linseed oil will be sold at a higher figure during the present year than ever before. Latterly Australia lias imported linseed from India, end lias erected machinery to c.vlraet the oil. Supplies for New Zealand are now mainly drawn from Australia and Indir., and the quantity received has been barely sufficient to meet rosiiirercents. Four veara ago linseed oil was retailed in Auckland at 3s fid a gallon: the market price to-day is 10s a gallon. White lead was quoted in Auckland m 1014 at £3l> a ton. but it is not now obtainable under £BO a ton. Prior to the war, supplies were received from Britain, but practically none is arriving from this source at present. During the war period a large white lead manufactory was erected in Australia, and latterly it has been supplying the needs of both the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand. It is not anticipated that there will be any appreciable reduction in the price of white lead and paints, owing to the higher wages and shorter hours conceded to labor, both in Australia and Britain.