BOTTLED BEER SUPPLIES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 10

BOTTLED BEER SUPPLIES

Heavily-Reduced Deliveries Because of heavily-reduced deliveries of bottled beer from breweries, merchants in Christchurch have this week been unable to deliver to customers with their customary promptness. Hotels have also had inadequate supplies of bottled beer.

An early announcement of the making of price orders to cover draught and bottled beer was expected by the trade on Budget night, as all figures are readily available to the Customs Department and the Price Tribunal.

Customers who placed orders since with the firms were informed that deliveries would be delayed as bottled beer supplies were exceedingly short and would remain so until the breweries had notice of the new prices fixed by orders. Merchants are required by law to accept orders for no quantity less than two gallons and the great majority of customers make up their orders with beer. All spirits and liqueurs have continued to be sold by merchants at the prices ruling before the Budget. The only change in most price lists has been for a brand of New Zealand wines" which has increased a few pence a bottle. The merchants have not passed on the excise duties, plus sales tax, on their fast-dwindling stocks, and will not do so until price rises are authorised by orders.

Now working on only 40 per cent, of value of 1956 importations, merchants have faced a major trading problem and the price rises yet to be announced have added to their worries. It is apparent that some form of rationing will have to be imposed for imported spirits in sales to regular customers.