PAINT AND PRICES

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 142, 18 June 1919, Page 6

PAINT AND PRICES

■Many and many a pieco of repair or improvement work has been held over during the past two or three years "till tho war is over" in anticipation of a drop in war-inflated prices. The war is virtually over now, except for the grand finale in which Germany will sign the dictated peace terms, but those who have delayed repair and other work must apparently still wait for the commencement of a general drop in prices in many lines. A Post reporter, who made some inquiries to-day regarding a rumoured sudden increase in the dsnnand for the services of painters, following tho easing-up of prices of materials, was told that the trade was certainly kept very busy, but such had been the case, with ' occasional fluctuations, right through the war. The demand for the painting of new premises. had slackened on account of the falling-off in building, but the demand for repair work had been steady. Painters had worked under considerable difficulties at times, as supplies were difficult, to obtain. Now that the embargo on certain articles had been lifted, supplies were coming to _ hand more readily, but with the exception of leads prices were showing no signs of dropping. Linseed oil had increased considerably during the past week, the New Zealand price ■ now standing at about 8s 6d plus the charge for the drum (English price about 8s 3d), and several classes of paints and varnishes had recently hardened ' considerably in price. It was, however, a, difficult matter to make any definite statement on the subject, as prices fluctuated considerably at short notice.