A TALK WITH THE GROCER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18592, 28 June 1922, Page 3

A TALK WITH THE GROCER

THE TREND OF PRICES. A MILD TRADE "WAR. For some time there has been something in the nature of a trade war among grocers in New Zealand, end this, it would appear, is _at present fairly acute in Dunedin. Prices are being “cut” with a readiness that should be welcome to householders; the grocers state that thev are not making a reasonable profit, and that the time must come soon when they will cry to one another in the terms of Shakespeare’s immortal lines, “Hold, enough.” One of the articles in most common use is the egg, and it, which usually at this time of the_ year brings from 2s upwards per dozen, is being retailed ot from Is Sd to Is lOd. But it must not be thought that this is purely the result of the “war.” A good winter hae been experienced so far, consequently Mother Hen is going more prolifically about her duty than is her custom, and, besides, it appears that the business of poultry farming is finding an over larger following. So, of course,- the eternal law of supply and demand has become applied to even the humble egg. On the contrary, butter is firming. It is well known that the English prices for our marketable commodities exert a strong influence on the local values, and butter at_ present affords a good illustration of this. characteristic. Butter seems to lie firming steadily in Dunedin, duo, as the cables have indicated. t 0 the fact, that it is soaring on, (ho London market because of the dry spell being experienced on the English and European markets. On that logic, it stands to reason that advice of a break of Europe’s dry spell should indicate a drop in local prices. In sympathy with butter, cheese has firmed. Recontly it could bo bought wholesale at 7d per pound, but now, a Daily Times reporter was informed, the same quality cannot be purchased at under BJd. Speaking in a general way of the tendency of the market, a prominent grocer advanced the opinion that prices would not decline very much more. Referring to tinned fruits, ho said (hat a great deal was dependent upon (ho decision in regard to (he Australian tariff. At present the export duty was 40 per cent., but, local merchants were hoping that it would be reduced te 25 per_ cent. Consequently they were not laying in stocks in the meantime. This meant that, if the tariff were reduced, consumers would have the'benefit of a considerable / reduction in price. The same' grocer, who is at present selling sugar at_ 26s for the 701 b bag, expressed the opinion (hat the price of this would fall further if Government control were removed.