Carnival Week Loosens Housewife’s Purse-Strings

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 17

Carnival Week Loosens Housewife’s Purse-Strings

(Bp Our Grocery Correspondent)

Carnival Week has produced a welcome fillip to trade in groceries. Allowing for the loss of one day’s trading, preliminary repqrts indicate that turnovers for the week will generally show a good increase on recent weeks’ figures. The influx .of visitors was one cause of the rise, but - there has also been a noticeable "holiday feeling” in the trade, producing a brisk demand for party lines and extras for<racegoers’ luncheons and holiday snacks. The continued bright weather has jnaintained demand for Jellies, canned fruit and canned meat. Transport Costa Rise Transport costs have been affected by several recent announcements. The wage rise had the effect of., raising carriers’ charges, but the reduction in petrol tax brought charges down again. These charges are now less than 1 per cent above their level of a month ago. On low-profit lines such as sugar, however, retailers grudge even this slight increase. This week, increases in transTasman freights became effective, though the increases have not yet been felt at. the retail level. Amounting to IQs a ton on general cargo and Is a case on fruit, they will have a varying incidence on retail prices. Canned fruit, one of the most important New Zealand grocery imports from Australia, may cost the retailer slightly more when present New Zealand stocks are exhausted. Essencs Price Up.—From Masterton comes the news that a popular brand of essence will In future rea, h l?,her price. The loz bottle is Is sd, the 2oz 2s sd, and the 4oz 4s 6d—increases of Id. Id. and 6d respectively. Canned _Apricots.—A newsletter from an Otago canner gives an indication of this year’s crop prospects. A light crop is expected in used more oil In burning their fire pots than they did last year as a frost prevention. The Growers’ Advisory Committee is expected to meet on November 16/ when the „°L apric S ts b ® decided. The cannery does not expect its pa «S k M»° e ? ce ed last year’s. n.i« o^ nlan . Onion*-—Stocks of Californian onions have arrived to ■ h ”rt«ge w Wc h has been ? vi dent over the last few weeks. onlons have been high many cases of indifferent quality. The Californian the°nrirJ >Pe m be gOod ones ’ and nJ 1,1 b . e ln tha vicinity of is 3d per pound. Segments.—A brand of i»nrt ? heeae Packed in Auck“dditlon to its range within the next few days. Hie i > hJ V .b^X° Ur 18 a savoury one and segments will retail at

4d each and Is lOd a circle of six segments. The previous range contained creamed onion and bacon flavours. Califoatian Prunes.—This market has bden showing an upward trend since the new season's prices were anounced on September 3. So far thews have been four increases In price and the smaller grades are the ones which are most affected. Agents are urging importers to place their 1960 orders as promptly as possible.

Canned Asparagus—Earlier, a Hastings canner advised what quantities of asparagus they expected to have available. A Nelson packer has indicated that they will have the same quantity available as last year So far there has been noword regarding the prospects from the Auckland area, but It would appear H* at . u * h «y can deliver reasonable position could be normal. Citrus Fruit Juices—Word has been received that a shipment is orange Julre. This *lll be the first .Stock that has been available for some time, and will be well received. Good stocks are still available of grapefruit juice, which is produced by local canners, but a Dunedin producer has just advised that his stocks are running low.-