SHORT BUT BUSY TWO WEEKS FOR GROCERS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28256, 18 April 1957, Page 17

SHORT BUT BUSY TWO WEEKS FOR GROCERS

(By Our Grocery Correspondent)

The week before Easter is normally one of the busiest weeks for grocers in the first half of the year, but this year, because Anzac Day is so close to Easter, it has been busier than usual. Some merchants will not be open for business, after today, until Friday of next week. Consequently today’s deliveries will be the last received by many grocers for 10 days. - Stocks of all lines needed for holidays, such as canned spaghetti, baked beans, soups and peas have been sufficient to meet the demand. Sales of sugar have been brisk as housewives have stocked up in anticipation of a price rise. The trade has not yet received advice from the Auckland refinery of any increase. Australian Vine Fruits. —A further bulletin has been issued by the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Board. Contrary to earlier advice that sultanas and currants would be plentiful, the latest information is that there will be no 3-crown currants. The 2-crown grade may be substituted in their place, but even this is doubtful. The 5-crown sultanas will now be substituted for 4-crown. These fruits could be short on this market before Christmas. Desiccated Coconut.—For some time the Ceylon market was steady, but it eased slightly a short time ago. The most recent information now shows slight increases. This is generally the trend at this time df the year Australian Dried Plums.—A small quantity of Australian dried plums has been offered, and, in most cases, offers have been taken up, although this fruit is not particularly popular on the New Zealand market. The shortage of dried apricots, which are very big sellers on this market for both jam and dessert, has led to some increase in the demand for plums. Although the plums are not popular for jam making, they do make an excellent sweet. Canned Peaches.—A Nelson canner, who provides a very large proportion of canned peaches for the Christchurch market, has now made known quantities from tnis season’s crop. The canner had earlier advised that pected due to bad weather just prior to canning; the figures now reveal just how bad the situation is. All varieties will be available, but, in many cases, only token quantities

will be delivered. Stocks will be available immediately. Canned Pears.—Xt this stage -t would appear that South Island canlarge quantities could not be exners will be able to supply the normal requirements, but, so far, figures are not available. North Island packers have already informed their quantities and these have been quite plentiful. SUGAR PRICES No Increase Yet Authorised (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 16. “The present price. order does not authorise higher prices,” said a member of the Price Tribunal (Mr H. Pearce) today, commenting on an order relating to the retail sales of sugar gazetted last night and which comes into force today. He said there would be a fraction of a penny alteration in some areas. “The order alters the methods of fixing the retail margins from a unit basis to a percentage basis,” he said. The order applies to the retail sales of sugar manufactured by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, and to any other sugar distributed by the company. The percentage mark-up fixed by the order applies to sugar sold in packages customary in the sugar trade. The maximum price that may be charged by any retailer for sugar to which the order applies shall be the cost into store increased by a margin of 13.75 per cent, when the lot sold is part of a purchase of more than half a ton, or increased by a margin of 11.25 per cent, when the lot sold is part of a purchase of less than half a ton. Where delivery by the retailer Is effected otherwise than over thecounter or where the sale is not for cash the maximum price may be increased by one farthing a pound, provided that where both such conditions apply the price shall not be increased by more than one farthing a pound. If the maximum price calculated according to the terms of the order is. not an exact number of pence or half-pence, the maximum price shall be calculated to the next upward half-penny.

The maximum price of sugar bought by the retailer and unsold by him before the order comes into force shall not exceed the appropriate price authorised pursuant to the Control of Prices Act, 1947.