TO-DAY'S PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1920, Page 6

TO-DAY'S PRICES.

THE TEA MARKET. SUGAR SHORT AGAIN. With the frequent changes in prices of everyday ar'tielw, which the householder has to buy, the following brief summary of the market condition's reported in New Plymouth yesterday will interest every woman who shops for the home:— Tea.—The Press message that Auckland tea merchants .have reduced tea fld per pound, and the circulation of their reduced prices, has not caused the sensation amongst local grocers that some might expect, as they are already selling first-class tea here at 2s fid per pound retail, a rate wliich compares more than favorably with the advertised reductions. The position is that the firmness in the Ceylon market will not be reflected here until importers have considerably reduced their heavy stocks. For some time past the big rises in the tea market enabled speculators to bring forward heavy shipments and quit them to direct importers at below Ceylon values. They did not apparently realise that such business would be only a temporary one, and as soon as the market broke, the buyers went back to their old Ceylon connections and left the speculators with .'enormous quantities in stock and afloat which they cannot afford to hold.

Benzine.—A direct shipment from New York is due in the Walton Hall about the middle oi| November. From reports received it ia evident that the cargo will be oversold, -though no price has yet been given. Buyers, however, will save at least Is »d a case coastal freight, and, more important, will eliminate the loss through leakage on the coastal boats and the risk of cargo being washed overboard, as all such losses are borne by the consignee on Wellington shipments. Kerosene.—A shipment is on the Walton Hall, and will come to a very bare market.

Onions.—Supplies are extremely bhort, and little relief can,be expected until the shipment ex Tofua arrives about November 20.

Oils.—Supplies are to hand. Prices look high at first glance, but when the actual contents of the bottles are compared with lines now on the market, it is apparent that in reality they are 25 per cent, to 40 per cent, cheaper. Walnuts.—Local arc at a prohibitive price, but Chinese are quoted at attractive rates for Christmas delivery. Sugar.—White is extremely short, but good supplies of No. 1 raw are available. This quality should not be confused with the ordinary brown sugar, as it is. a much superior article. It serves at least one good purpose to the Board of Trade officers, in enabling thom to traek the dealer who is not so short of stock as he would have the authorites imagine, «nd it is believed that several allotments will undergo a drastic reduction.

Confectionery.—South Island supplies are practically unobtainable, but small lots of local have enabled dealers to keep going. Fruit.—Consumers .should consider buying pie fruits while they are plentiful, as with the increased price and probable shortage of sugar, added to the almost prohibitive rates for American fruit jars, fruit preserving does not look like a very profitable investment for the coming season, Dried Figs.—The market is overstocked, owing to a large quantity arriving on open consignment, and dealers are quitting at a low rate.