RISING PRICES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15513, 14 February 1916, Page 2

RISING PRICES.

SOME- PRINTERS' PROBLEMS

The Tvar is being severely felt by printers in three ways—(l) difficulty of procuring, at- all certain papers; (2) slow deliveries, and (3) phenomenally high prices with freights.

Since tlio importation of wood pulp from Norway and Sweden was prohibited in England, the price ol : all printing papers lias been raised 50 per cent. Supplies came mainly from Britain, but Continental countries used to mako heavy contributions to available supplies, and among them were Germany, Austria, and Belgium. These three countries arc now light off the market. Moreover, certain efcsentisil dye stuffs used in colouring and tinting paper, and in the manulacturo of inksj are not now procurable from Germany. A master printer of long-standing made it clear to a representative or tho Wellington "Post" that the situation would not improve but rather grow worse. "It is evident," he said, "that ■paper merchants and manufacturers at Homo are doing their utmost to conserve tho Britisn trade, and we necessarily become a secondary consideration. There is not the quantity available to fully meet overseas requirements. Certain printing papers in common use are up in price IUO per cent. This is exclusive of the greatly enhanced freights. Besides this, we can never be certain of deliveries. In fact, orders for paper, as for other imported goods, aro all far behind. We are faced with a serious shortage. With regard to some coloured papers (depending for their colour on certain dyes) they are now unprocurable. Their use will have to cease. As for America, it is useless for us to look to that quarter for making up what wc cannot obtain from Britain, because of the tcrrifio freight chaises and the preferential duty. Also, American prices have increased in sympathy with English. "Tho same difficulty obtains with respect to printing inks. Some colours we cannot obtain at all. The! Germans made raw materials which tho English and Scotch ink manufacturers worked up. Some substitutes havo been introduced, but they do not relievo the situation. Type and other materials havo advanced in price, and it seems to me inevitable that printersmust raise their prices all round, and it is as well for tho jjublic to be prepared for it."