Page 48 Advertisement 2

New Zealand Tablet, 22 July 1915, Page 48

Why Tea Costs More The Second Article of a series that Every Housewife Should Read. U is indeed hard for the New Zealand housewife to realise the remarkable changes that have occurred in the tea trade within the last eight monthschanges which have resulted in greatly increased prices. As was shown in the first article of this series, tea is in great demand as the beverage of the 25 million men who are under arms to-day. due to the fact that it is the most stimulating and invigorating drink — easily transported and easily handled. But there is another element which exerts almost as great an influence in the steadily rising cost of tea. This factor is Russia, with its enormous population of over 160 millions, which, at the stroke of a pen—-in almost a single night —has been turned into nation of tea drinkers. What this means is readily seen when one considers that until September last the Russian people consumed less than 1 lb. of tea per head per annum ; whereas in our own Maoriland the average is over 7.> lbs, of tea per head per annum. Moreover, the money previously spent on other beverages by Russia is now available for tea. Hence, at the tea auctions, enormous quantities have been bought by Russian representatives, who readily pay increasing prices to secure what they want. As a result, tea to-dav costs the. blender in New Zealand an average of 2id.-to 3d. per lb. more than eight months ago, and, unless