PRICE OF CHINAWARE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 300, 12 May 1913, Page 6

PRICE OF CHINAWARE.

INCREASES TO BE PERMANENT. | Auckland, May 8. Very considerable increases in the prices of English china and earthenware have been reported" during the last six months; in fact, ever since the big strikes of last year prices have been steadily on the up-grade. The advances recently announced range from 5 to 20 per cent, on all classes of household china and earthenware, with an average of probably 12 y g per cent. Porcelain baths, an important item', are now 10 per cent, dearer than formerly, and fancy china has gone up in some cases nearly 40 per cent. In the course of some enquiries among leading wholesalers this morning, it was ascertained that the increases were expected to be permanent, as the reasons advanced for them included—(a) Increased wages, (b) higher Imperial and local taxation, ,(c) higher insurance rates, and (d) largely increase cost of coal and I other commodities. During the recent strikes one gentleman pointed out, the potteries had been closed for six weeks, which meant that when work was started again, they had some £6,000,000 worth of orders to overtake; and this would tend to raise prices quite apart from other considerations. There had been no sudden increase in prices during the past six months, but the rise had been steady, and was likely to be main- j taincd henceforward.