SUGAR AND FLOUR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15466, 10 March 1921, Page 3

SUGAR AND FLOUR.

The position of the local market in regard to sugar and flour, the two staple necessities in which a shortage has caused uneasiness, has not altered within the past two days, except .that the stocks that were held in the town have daily grown less. The greatly altered aspect of the shipping trouble lias, however, relieved the anxiety which was occasioned, and with the prespect of the arrival at an early date of shipments of both commodities, the public and the, merchants are taking a philosophic view of the stringency. Philosophy, however, is not edible, and those of the householders who were not fortunate some time ago in securing sufficient sugar to carry on, will not find it easier to obtain any immediately. “There is no sugar in town,” is (he general reply to enquiries, and it is not expected that there will bo any until after the next trip of the s.s. Mararoa, which is due to leave Auckland next Tuesday. Flour is in a somewhat better position: The greater hardship.falls on the bakers, some of whom have had to purchase a good deal of small-bagged flour, in order to keep their customers going. One baker mentioned to a reporter that only yesterday ho had bought five ions of flour in small bags, the transaction resulting in a loss to him of £3O, ns against the price he would have had to pay for sacked flour, had it been available. .It is estimated, however, that there is sufficient flour for all requirements until the next shipment arrives from the south. This is expected, according to local advice, by the s.s. Talune, now- lying at Dunedin, and should arrive within the course of a week.