THE GROCERY BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18455, 17 January 1922, Page 8

THE GROCERY BILL

; PRICES IN CHRISTCHURCH. ; (From Ode Own Correspondent.) i GfifRISTCHURCH, January 16. The only alteration- in prices in grocery , lines made to-day is _ the reduction in the price of eggs, which ip some shops ar4 now being sold at Is 3d a dozen for first, grade, , and Is 2d a dozen for second grade, a penny less than last week’s prices. *- “ Dairy produce i seems to have now ! reached rock bottom prices, and there ia i little likehood of butter and cheese becoming any, cheaper,” remarked a grocer to a Christchurch Star reporter. “ The hardening of the- London market for butter and 1 cheesb may have the effect later on of ! causing a rise in _ local prices, but that time has not yet arrived. Tea prices remain ; unchanged.. Merchants are trying to persuade us that prices must rise, but I'do not think'that will happen for some time.” The recent announcement by a leading firm of jam manufacturers that they have, s increased the price of 21b jars by Ss a dozen came as a bombshell to local grocers, many of whom are refusing to pay higher • prices. “ The manufacturers are now asking from 2s 4d to 2s IQd ner jar, according to variety, and this we regard as too high altogether," remarked a grocer. “It looks like -a deliberate attempt to 101 l the trade in jars of jam. Tins have - not been increased in price, and we are told ; that the, rise is due to the higher cost Of jars. As - far as w% are concerned, this firm can keep its jam until ■ more reasonable' rates are charged.” . U Asked what he': considered the ■ reduction m prices of' groceries was, compared with a year ago, one grocer said he had worked the matter oiit, and.founcf that prices had ' come down by between 30 per emit, and, 40 per cent. - “ Tin's, in my opinion, represents the difference" between the present , weekly household bill fop groceries and the bill a year ago. Some lines, of . course, have not fallen at all, but I am taking an average right through. , Some j of the reductions also ore due -to price- ■; .'cutting' among grocers.” 'The 'same grocer, / \ expressed', the opinion that with the cheapening of prices, people were living' better.” They do not make butter and eggs lost .as long as they did, when prices were high,j and the sale for lard and margarine is very small compared with; a year- ago.” Local fruiterers are not inclined to believe New Zeal and-growA lemons .will take the place of American lemons on the Christchurch market for the reason that the Auckland article; will. not -keep? long,- enough.^ , “ Jtf the Government. ,finds a ‘ way of ttundrying,. the lemons as is done- in America, 1 therewould bo big possibilities for the industry,” said a retailer, “but until they ; can do that, Christchurch will have to draw its supplies from the States.” |. ■