THE PRICE OF SALT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 48

THE PRICE OF SALT.

WELLINGTON, September 21

The attention of the Prime Minister was directed by Mr M'Callum to the great increase which has taken place in the price of salt during the past few days. In reply, Mr Massey quotes the report of the Board of Trade as follows: —The quotation for salt, f.0.b., in Australia is £7 10s to £8 per ton, to which must be added freight and charges, costing landed in New Zealand about £9 10s per ton. A small quantity is duo to- arrive shortly froim England, which will cost about £8 10s in merchants' stores. A month • ago salt was worth £ls in Sydney, but the market is now easier, and when business relations with New Zealand are resumed a substantial drop is expected. Most of the big consumers in the dominion fortunately hold stocks for nearly 12 months' requirements, and; the salt being sold as high as £l2 per ton is only in small lots and has been in some instances re-purchased in Gisborno and Auckland at the market price of £l2 10s, to which has to be added handling charges, and freights from those ports. If the present price quoted does not exceed £lO per ton in Picton>, it does not appear, under the circumstances, to be unreasonable. No higher quotation has come definitely under the notice of the Board of Trade."