IMPORTED LIQUORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11148, 5 August 1914, Page 6

IMPORTED LIQUORS.

[SURE TO BE A SHORTAGE. BRANDIES WILL BE SCARCE. The British working man in Now Zealand is not likely to go short of his beer as the result of the war, but those who drink whisky, brandy and other imported liqiors may havoto go short. The brewers will bo able to brew as as there is malt and hops, hut the spirit merchant will be embarrassed if the shipment, of goods is interfered with from Great Britain. A leading merchant stated this morning that there was bound' to be a shortage. The heavy premiums would have file effect of restricting shipments and raising the prices. Supplies had been so regular up to the present that large stocks were not kept. The bonded'stores also had a limited capacity, aud this tend'ed to keep down stocks. Some .merchants had vorv large stocks in some lines, but other ord'ers were hold up already. Brandies would be tho lines most affected, as th«v nil came from France, and they were never held in largo quantities. An immediate rise in price was not likely to take place, the reporter was tuld. Merchants showed no disposition to increase just now, but it seemed inevitable that the trend of events in t ie next, wwk or so wouli* lead to an

inovitnblo rise. So far, it was stated, thero was no rush to lay in stocks.