THE SCARCITY OF KEROSENE

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 116, 13 November 1900, Page 6

THE SCARCITY OF KEROSENE

Stocks of kerosene in Auckland and I throughout Ncav Zealand are at present (says the Auckland Herald) rather short,, and as a consequence consumers are not ! getting the full reduction in price Avhich Avas anticipated from the recent abolition of Customs duty. A chut Avith fcome of our leading merchants elicited the opinion that the shortage is only a temporary one, but will probably con- ! tiriue throughout the colony foi> a couple j of months more at least, until large sup- I plies aiTivc from America. The chief reason of the scarcity is the fact of large quantities having been purchased in Ncav Zealand by Australian buyers, partly in anticipation of the neAV Commonwealth tariff, and partly on account of a scarcity of kerosene in Australia, owing to the importations of the Australian colonies for this year only amounting to 964,000 cases, as against 1,165,000 last year. r Since the duty has been removed in Ncav Zealand all duty-paid stock has been shipped to the Australian market, and .this, combined Avith the fact that the importation to Ncav Zealand for last year Avas on^y 147,000 ciihcs as against 245,000 during the preceding year, left* no stock in liana to speak of, and had the effect of raising prices locally. This year NeAV Zealand has imported 207^000" cases. The removal of the Customs duty reduced the price by 4s per case, but the short supply has had tho effect of again raising the price from 6s 6d to 6s 9d to 8s 6d and 9s 6d "ci 1 case, or from 9d to Is per gallon. It is anticipated that during the next few months the market Avill be fully stocked, in aucav of a large bore in Buenos Ayres being worked by an English syndicate, which proposes to plac.e a big supply on the Australian market.

The weekly meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution Avas held this afternoon. There Aveie present — Mr G. Webb (in the chair), Rev. W. A. Evans, Messrs H. Cook, Q-. H. Baylis, R. Mothcs, A. Sample, and D. Robertsort. An application was made cm behalf of the Arife of a professional player for passage money to Hobarl to enable flier to join, her husband there. Tho Avoman had for some time been under me care of the Salvation Army. The Trustees expressed doubt as to Avhether the woman u'hen she arrived at Hobart would find her husband there, and Avers of opinion that she Avould only find her Ava.y back to the colony, and become a further bui'den upon tho Institute. Mr. Ba,vlis thought the Army officials were to blame for taking charge of such cases, and noit endeavouring to compel the husband to contribute tOAvards her support. It Avas agreed to leave the matter in the hands of three Trustees with power to act after consultation with an.oflicer ol the Army. The number of inmates m 1 the Home Avas stated to be 17 females and 68 males— total, 75.