CHEMISTS'WARES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 13 April 1910, Page 5

CHEMISTS' WARES.

ALX-ROUND RISE IN PRICE.

WELLINGTON, April 12. The prices of several of the leading; lines in pharmaceutical goods have risen, during the past four months* and according to a local authority the public may expect that rise to> be reflected in the retail price of certain 1 goods. Rubber, which is used extensively in' chemists'^ wares, has been subjected to several rises during the past year. The result is now being reflected in 1 the London price of articles in which rubber is used more or less. Glycerine, which at this time last year was being sold at 7d per lb in London, is now being .quoted at Is per lb'. The' reason given is the increasing demand for the product in the manufacture of explosives. The .cod liver oil market is described as "uneasy." It appears that the livers of the cod caught last season were poor, consequent, it is said, on a scarcity of food. It took 400 livers last season to produce the same quan* tity of oil that 250 produced in norma seasons. This must mean an increasi in the retail price of the new season's oil.

The general rise even extends to drugs. Morphia, which was selling in Wellington at 7s per ounce at this time last year, is now 13s per ounce. Santonine, a drug used a good deal in the composition of curative powders, was selling in London last year at 18s per ounce, -the present day price is £2. Olive oil and the whole range of ch/rinous products went up in price immediately after the great earthquake in Messina, and are still selling at the advanced price. Bromides, too, have advanced from 4d to 6d per lb, consequent upon the action of a combine of manufacturers, and iodide of potassium ha_s also been advanced in price. Such is the state of the world's markets that it is very probable that even the price of common household soap will go up shortly, advices having been received to that effect by agents of manufacturers in Wellington.