“Front Line” Of Decimal Change

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 16

“Front Line” Of Decimal Change

(From Our Grocery Reporter) Grocers will be in the “front line” when New Zealand changes to decimal currency in less than a year from now and they are already preparing.

Most have begun group study on how to deal with dollars and cents. Grocers are likely to be affected by the change rather more than most sections of the business community. It is at the corner shop that the housewife is likely to spend the new currency for the first time. An immediate change to decimal currency on July 10

next year would suit most grocers, but, of course, this will not be possible. The trade still has to learn how the zones for machinery conversion will be defined. “Key top” conversion is attracting interest in the trade along with other short-cut conversion methods. If a machine has sufficient capacity—say £99,999 19s lid —the shillings and pence keys could be blocked off. However, most machines in the trade only have a capacity of £99 19s lid.

But it does seem that New Zealand’s small traders will be much better prepared than they were in Australia. Salmon.— This year’s salmon catch almost certainly will be poor and will mean higher prices paid by importers, leading to a severe shortage. A 15 per cent reduction in import licences has not helped. Olive Prices.— Olive prices have varied considerably recently. They have just risen sharply after a decline three months ago. Poor olive crops in the last two years are the reason for higher olive oil prices. Coconut.—A shortage of coconut will be relieved by stocks due from Ceylon, Tonga and the Philippines. Tonga, New Zealand’s main supplier, dropped its price recently and some of the Tongan crop arrived at Lyttelton recently. Canned Fruit.— An innovation expected on the Christchurch market is a three-fruit product in a 15|oz can. A cocktail mixture, it contains diced peaches, pears and pineapple In syrup. Produced under the Oak label, it is expected to cost about 2s 8d a can. Ceylon Toa.—A recent drop Ln the price of Ceylon tea is mainly because of strikes among estate workers and banks’ clerical staff. However, now the British &h ip pi ng strike has ended prices could firm.