Many Items Freed From Control

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31560, 23 December 1967, Page 18

Many Items Freed From Control

(From Our Grocery Reporter) In the last two or three days the grocery trade has been extremely active and Christmas trading is well under way. This has also been helped by the hot weather and the late breaking up of many schools.

Almost over-shadowing the Christmas trade was the announcement of the release from import control of numerous lines affecting the grocery trade.

It will be recalled that there had been much speculation.

Items released include rice, coconut, edible oils, and lentils. Competition in these lines will become fiercer and housewives can expect to see them come down considerably in price. If the delicensing

i a success, it is possible that more will follow at a later date.

Importers have been placing orders for these items for quick delivery and it should not be very far into the new year when ample stocks will be to hand. Australian Dried Apricots.— The news now arriving for the new season's crop of dried apricots and peaches is not good. Crops are considerably reduced because of the drought experienced in many of the apricot growing areas. It is thought, at this stage, that the base of supplies for next year will be on a percentage basis on deliveries for this season’s crop. No prices are available as yet but it is understood that they will be higher than last year because of the recent adjustment in our exchange rate. Ceylon Tea.—The results of this week’s Ceylon tea sales are now coming to hand and these show that prices have once again increased. Prices have been firming for some time now and according to the experts, it does not appear that the market will ease until well into January. This continuing increase in the cost of tea could possibly force local brands up in price before very long. Fortunately, Ceylon devalued to the same amount as the United Kingdom and this is a help to New Zealand buyers. Malayan Pineapple.—Stocks of pineapple from Malaya were expected for the Christmas trade, but unfortunately this is now not to be so. The Waitaki which was due in Lyttelton on December 14 will now not arrive until January 6. Although missing the Christmas trade, pineapple will be well accepted next year as it is still very short on the local market.

Christmas Novelties.—This year there have been a good supply of New Zealand packed biscuits, Christmas packing, cigarettes and confectionery. Biscuits, in particular, have provided a large variety to choose from, both in types of packs and prices.' Christmas crackers have been in good supply and are still readily available. Sales have been slow getting off the mark but now distributors say that all types are selling freely.