THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 7

THE BREAKFAST TABLE.

RETAIL PRICE REVIEW. SLUMP IN BUTTER. MUTTON PRICES INCREASED The two principal changes that have taken place in the cost of breakfast table lines during the past week, have been a further drop of one penny per pound in the price of factory butter and an increase in the retail prices of mutton of approximately one penny per pound. The latest reduction in the price of butter brings the retail prices down to Is 8d per lb for the first grade Canterbury brands and to Is 7d for factory butter packed in grocers' own wrappers. The latter is factory butter bought mostly at advantageous prices by grocers and sold by them under their own brands. The quality generally is first-class A slump has occurred in .regard to separator butter which is now being sold at Is 3d per lb. One grocer stated this morning that a number of dairy farmers who were not satisfied with the prices they were getting for their cream from the dairy factories had decided to make their own butter and sell direct to the grocers. This had had the effect of causing a glut of separator butter and the slump set in last week when the price dropped from Is 6d to Is 3d per lb. The same grocer expressed the opinion that there would be a further diop in the price of first- grade factors butter before long, but at the same time he considered that the present decline in butter prices was a bad thing for the country generally. There i> no change to report in regard to the prices of other grocery lines. The retail price for first-grade new-laid eggs continues at Is 3d per dozen and second grade, at I s * Id per dozen. The prices are considerably below those charged at this time lastyear, and the indications are that there will be no change in the immediate future. WHY MUTTON IS DEARER. Retail butchers explain that the ircrea.se in the prices of mutton by approximately one penny per pound is due to the advances that have been tsking place at the Addington market during the past six weeks. Lamb and beef prices, are, for the present, un changed We have refrained from making the increase until we absolutely had to make the public pay more.” The same butcher urged that it was to the. advantage of the public to eat more beef. Beef, he explained, was more economical and much cheaper than lamb and mutton at this time of the year, owing to tire big demand for New Zealand lamb and mutton in tho Old Country. When the. freezing works opened he believed that lamb would be sold retail at 9d or lOd per lb and wether mutton at about fid per lb, but beef would probably not be increased in price as the prospect from an export point of view was not bright. As iu the case or butter, the local retail prices for meat were governed largely by the export value, and from that point of view it was cheaper tor the public to eat beef instead of mutton. CHRISTMAS POULTRY. The prices of poultry this C’hrisimas will be about 10 per cent lower than the prices last year and 30 per cent lower than the prices at Christmas, 1920. Turkeys will be sold at Is 101 per lb. goslings from 7s 6d each, ducklings from 5s each, spring chickens from 4s 6d each and boiling fowls from 2s 6d each. The prospects of supplies are exceptionally good, and the birds are stated to be well forward. Poulterers are already booking orders, for Christmas poultry, and it is anticipated that the lower prices will cause a greatly improved demand. This year’« prices are about 30 per cent above the prices charged in pre-war days, and it is considered that they are about as low as they are likely to become for some time. END OF WHITEBAIT SEASON. The whitebait season is expected zo definitely end this week. There is still a little about, but supplies are very scarce, and even at 3e per half-pound, which is the price to-day, it is not regarded as profitable to catch. Generally speaking, it has been quite a good season. Other varieties of fish are in good supply, and the prices are on a reasonable level. Groper was selling to-day at 8;1 per lb, ling fid, cod 4d. gurnet 4d, ter a kill i 6d, moki 6d, flounders 8d and soles 9cl, all per lb; Smoked varieties are in good supply’ at usual prices. SPRING VEGETABLES CHEAP. Most spring vegetables are very cheap at present. The season has been very good and the prices are on a much lower level than they have been for several years. Cabbages are particularly cheap, very large sorts being sold at 2d and 3d each. Cauliflowers, on the other hand, arc scarce and dear, Pd and l.s each being charged for small cauliflowers. Spring turnips and carrots are plentiful at 2d per bunch, the same prices being asked for beetroot. spring unions and radishes. Lettuces are cheap, prices ranging from four for 6d upwards. Dried onions are very scarce. Rhubarb is being sold at 6d and 8d per bundle. Asparagus is practically finished. T h+' first of the new season's broad beanare on sale at 6d per lb and loc.v green peas are now down to 4d per lb or 2s a peck. Local potatoes are cheaper, to-day’s price being 31b for Is. Wellington potatoes retail at 51b for Is. Best local tomatoes are now 2s 3d per lb and second quality Is 6d per 11>. Local hothouse tomatoes are Is fid per lb. At 3d per lb. gooseberries art' cheap. 3he first of the red and black currants are on sale at 9d per lb. STR A WBBR RIE-S PLENTIFUL. Strawberries are very plentiful this season and the prices are reasonable. Local grown strawberries are being sold at Is 3d. Is 6d and Is 9d per box and if the Wnimate strawberry crop is as good as the local crop the prices should much lower this week. By the end of the week jam strawberries are expected to be available. The first of this season’s local grapes are now on sale ht 6s per lb. Stunner apples are being sold at 6d per lb and cooking apples at the same price. American apples are due to arrive this week. There are very few oranges, lemons and bananas on hand in Christchurch jtist now, but fresh supplies are due this week. Cherries, which are plentiful this season. vary in price, from Is to Is 9d per lb, according to quality. Cocoarmts are selling at 6d and 8d each.