SMALL CHANGE SCARCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17361, 7 January 1920, Page 8

SMALL CHANGE SCARCE.

SHORTAGE OF PENNIES.

SHOPKEEPERS' DIFFICULTIES.

SUPPLIES FROM AUSTRALIA.

The shortage of copper coins, which has been felt for soma time in Auckland among other placoa in Now Zealand, has been relieved slightly by a recent consignment from Australia. The arrival of £650 in pennies 'and £150 in halfpennies from the Commonwealth was a unique experience for New, Zealand. But the quantity, which weighed some 10,0001b, is proving only of temporary assistance, and the banks are eagerly awaiting the remainder of the consignment, £2300 in value.

In some businesses considerable difficulty is being cxpdtienced in the matter of change. This is particularly the case with i tobacconists, who sell thousands of 8d I packets' of cigarettes and Is 4d tins of tobacco every week, nearly every one of these orders entailing the giving away of I coppers. So severe is the famine that the Dcvonport Ferry Company has placed announcements at its booking offices requesting the public to tender the exact amount of the fares. The manager of the ; company stated yesterday that were it I not for the supply of pennies derived from j the Id, 2d, ana 3d motor-bus service run- ! ning at Devoiiport the booking offices j would be unable to cope with the position. I Auckland generally is being maintained !in its copper supplies by the Tramway I Company and the Post Office, both of j which ar.i apparently unaffected by the I general shortage. I According to banking authorities the j most serious trouble is over the scarcity of silver, chiefly threepenny pieces and shillings. The Mint has not been supplying any silver for a considerable timo, the reason being the high price of the c/ude article. This is naturally felt most severely in regard to money of the smaller denominations, which usually assist in (•king out the coppers. The amount of refined silver contained in a new half-crown is now actually worth 3s,