THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16433, 23 May 1921, Page 7

THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

h;ots from the shops. A BUTTER SURPLUS. SUGAR TO STAY HIGH. Provision merchants arc taking a keen interest in the butter price problem. There is a feeling in some quarters that an enterprising firm may buy up the Imperial Government’s surplus, and attempt to break the market. Explaining this phase, a Colombo Street grocer said:—The Government has entered into a contract with the producers, and says that the price will be 2s 3d until the end of August. There an? grave doubts as to whether that contract should have been entered into, but in any case :it seems likely^to last. The really interesting point is that large stocks purchased by the. Imperial Government lie in cool store in New Zealand. "What's going to happen to them P The Imperial Government. I have been told, offered the surplus io the New Zealand Government at a reduced price, and the New Zealand Government refused. There is tio bar, however, to a private; lirm buying up a fair sized quantity. It con Id. if m v information is correct, make o. decent profit and sell to the consumer at about Is 7d to Is 8d a pound. What would happen to the contract price then?*’

“There’s something in the idea, 1 ’ said another merchant. c ‘ The main necessity will he a firm with capital and organisation, and not liable to be influenced by the feeling of country shareholders. It will have to he an independent firm. There does not seem to lie a great deal of risk about the. scheme hut von never know.’’

Sugar will evidently stay at 6-*d a lb until the end oi‘ August. Speaking in Auckland, the chairman of the TToani or Trade (Mr \V. 0. MacDonald) said: ‘‘ There appears to be considerable conjecture on the part of the business community and also on the part of a largo section of the public as to the likelihood of an early reduction in the price of sugar. Certain newspaper paragraphs have created t-ho impression that -\n alteration in price is imminent. This is perhaps based on the idea that the contract between the Sugar Company and the Government terminates on. .Tune -50. As a matter of fact the contract does not end mitiT August 31 next, and moreover, a, reduction in jjrice is not probable until some time after that dated’

' Anv indication that the contract would cud on June 30 came, in the first place, from Mr MacDonnld himself,*’ said a. storekeeper. 41 When aunomicthe terms oi* which firms could secure supplies and the procedure they should follow in filing orders, lie said Nominations once nia.de arc irrevocable for the year ending June 30. 1021, unless by the consent of the Hoard of Trade.’ That- looks as if the original contract between the Sugar Company and the Government covered the period up to ,'June, and not up to August. Has there been a new contract or some extension of the old one? Mr 'MacDonald quotes the ‘ National Sugar Journal ’ as an authority for the statement that the retail price of sugar will remain high for* some time. Is that Journal

an impartial witness? It says in effect that transport costs are an important factor. Of course they are., and the truth is that transport costs are dropping and raw material is abundant.'’

In Christchurch sugar supplies are plentiful. The latest aimounccinent to grocers from the Sugar Companv says:-™ ,r The heavy demand having been met. it, Jins been decided to revert to the old system of supplying rsugar as it *s required, and any increase on your Board of Trade allotment will be forwarded on receipt of your instructions. ft is, of course, understood that, should circumstances demand it, the allotment basis will bo reverted to.” Chilled eggs have been selling for the pa'st month or two at 2s fid a dozen. The supply ta nearly finished, and consumers will soon have to buy fresh eggs at the top price or go without. The retail rate for new-laid eggs is 3s Gd. Kerosene has dropped by 6d a case, but there has been no alteration in the rgtail rate. “There is a. general impression that tea is inclined to be firmer, but I am ratiier doubtful.” said a grocer. “ During the week I tried to buy best quality‘s broken Orange Pekoe, and the lowest quotation was 2s Gd a lb. At that rate J would not do business. To me the offer appeared perfectly ridiculous. The pre-war rate was Is to Is 2d ” Retail meat rates remain at last week’a level. iC Prices ior sheep and lamb hardened at the recent Addington and Burnside sales; beef was easier,” said a butcher to-day. “Our quotations are unchanged, and trade all round, is brisk. Christchurch people are better off for good meat than the people in any other centre.” The fish shortage has been overcome. Good supplies have arrived from Timaru and Moeraki, as well as from Lyttelton, and prices are easier in consequence. The retail rate for fiat fish is it)d- a lb, ling sd, and cod 4dPotatoes are plentiful in Christchurch. The retail price for a 2001 b sack, first grade, is '.l2s Gd. Fruit and vegetable prices show little alteration. Late rhubarb is on safe at Gd a bundle, and artichokes are Sd a lb. Kumeras are 31 bs for is, and tree tomatoes, suitable for jam. ten a Is Interesting paragraph from an Auckland newspape :r—“ Flour. Demand keeps up well, and it is evident, that bakers have not yet been able to get in any surplus stock, meantime working from hand to mouth. Southern is arriving by every steamer. ft would also be possible to import profitably from Australia if the embargo were lifted, as the price on the other side is only £14.”

Island oranges aro scarce throughout New Zealand. According to the regulation c,j v,s the Auckland ' Star”), no citrus fruit is allowed to be landed in New Zealand unless accompanied by a ceitiiicato stating that there is no fruit flv within a. radius of one mile of where the fruit was grown. As a consequence, shipments of citrus fruits have been condemned on arrival hero owing to showing slight signs of the post, although it is contended by many authorities that the fly, being the product of a tropical clime, cannot exist in New Zealand. A week or two ago a valuable consignment of mandarins, valued at about £BOO, arrived here from Fiji, but on account of this drastic regulation, the whole consignment had to be taken out to sea and dumped overboard. This course was insisted upon hv the Department in spite of the fact that the fruit was all of first-class quality, while the market at the time was absolutely bare of mandarins.