TO-DAY'S PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1920, Page 6

TO-DAY'S PRICES.

NO SUGAR YESTERDAY.

POTATOES IN SHORT SUPPLY. With the frequent changes in prices of everyday articles which the housewife has to .buy, the following brief summary of the- market conditions reported in New Plymouth yesterday will interest every woman who shops for the home;— Bacon aud Hams.-—These are extremely scarce and will continue so for some weeks. Prices advanced a further Id per lb during the week. It is understood that one North Taranaki factory lias sent the whole of its output to the South Island. Some relief may be looked for about the end of December. _ Candles.—As predicted, the market has risen Id per lb, due to the increased cost of wax. Sugar.—No sugar for public consumption was brought by the Barawa last night, and a shipment is urgently required here. A correspondent this weel# questioned the right of the grocer to sell the No. 1 grade brown at the white sugar price, and appeared to think that either the retailer or wholesaler was thus making an extra profit. Had he read the newspapers more closely he would have seen that the question had previously been raised in the House, and the Minister had replied that the Government took full responsibility, as they had found it necessary to charge their agents the full white price for this brown sugar. Honey.—lt was anticipated last week that the demand would force up prices, and the- honey producers now announce an advance of Is (3d per dozen for 21b tins. Starch.—A message from Auckland Stnnounces that a drop of £25 per ton had taken place, and that the Board of Irade was seeing that the consumer would get the jjenelit. This will not help the Taranaki public, as the local retail price has not been higher than the reduced wholesale price now ruling in Auckland. Sultanas.—lt is curious to notice that instead of New Zealand importing American sultanas in large quantities, as is usually done at this time of the vear, she is exporting to America the Australian fruit to the extent of several thousand cases. The high prices ruling in America account for this, but it is not likely to continue, as the surplus thus being absorbed will harden the local market. Potatoes.—Owing to the dislocation of coastal shipping, this line, and also other South Island produce, in in short supply locally, but the Mora sailing next week should bring relief. Milk.—The manufacturers of condensed milk are feeling the sugar shortage, and are forced to import Java sugar. This costs about £BO per ion, or roughly (id per cent, more than the local. The market for tin, of which the milk containers are made, looks . very strong, so that even the recent heavy rise in milk may not represent the top of the market,' Penzine.—Mr. Wilford's importation of 20 cases of benzine, bom-lit retail in America and landed in Wellington at -3s per ease, is not taken very seriously by those in the trade. Ii his figures are correct he should have no dilliculfv in making a few hundred thousand pounds by continuing with his supplies. Prices from America this week for a good average spirit were quoted at 5 dollars -if, cents a ease, c.i.f. Xcw Plymouth, in lots of 10,000 cases for prompt, shipment. Convert this at ' 3 dol. 4!) cents to the .£. which is about !l »' Tilling r<nc. add 1 per cent, primage dntv, bank exchange, and loss through leakage, and it will be found that the ; cost will he nearly 50 per cent, higher than the figure given by Mr. Wilford. ""'o will iie seen that the present Board of Irade rale only shows a bare margin to the dealers. The quotation in question was a direct one from America, and not given by any of the New Zealand firms who operate largelv in this ! line. Seeded Raisins.—American are in very short supply. Mildura are offering • freely, but are in poor condition, anil not much sought after by buyers, who fear that they may go bad before the ' Christmas demand.