EGG FAMINE HAS NOW PASSED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 9

EGG FAMINE HAS NOW PASSED

INCREASE IN SUPPLY CAUSES LOWER PRICES. The egg famine which was felt in Christchurch a few weeks ago has now passed, and the supply is improving steadily, with a consequent reduction in prices. A fortnight ago, when the supply was at its lowest, the price at auction for first grade eggs was 2s lid a dozen, but last week it had dropped to 2s 6d for first grade and 2s 3d for second grade. Retail prices are about 3d per dozen more. The supply is considered satisfactorv for this time of the year, and the present prices are expected to be maintained for about another two weeks. After that a further reduction may take place. In addition to the local demand, there is a fair demand from the North Island for Canterburv eggs. No changes have taken place in the prices of other staple grocery lines during the past week, but a reduction in the price of New Zealand-made oatmeal is said to be imminent. This is being brought about by the competition of Canadian oatmeal, which at present is being sold at lower rates than the local product. It is not known what the extent of the drop in the price of New Zealand oatmeal will be, but probably it will be brought into line with the price of the imported oatmeal. Vegetables and Fruit.

< abbages are very cheap at present, retail prices for large sorts being three j for 6d or 3d each- Cauliflowers are selling at 3d and 6d each. Other vegetable prices are:—Spinach 3d a bundle, leeks 4d a bundle, celery 6d and 10d a bundle, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beet and radishes 2d a bundle, marrows lid a lb. pumpkins 2d a lb. Only hothouse tomatoes are now on sale, and prices have advanced to 9d and Is a lb. Artich6kes are selling at 4d a lb. Oranges, bananas and apples are now cheap. Oranges are selling retail at four, five, six and eight a shilling, and bananas at six, eight, ten and sixteen a shilling. Prices for apples are:—Delicious 6d a lb, Cox’s Orange 4d and 6d, Jouothan sd, cooking apples 31b a shilling. Pears are selling at 4d and 6d a lb. Other fruit prices are:—ltalian lemons five a shilling, passion fruit eight a shilling, pines Is 6d each. Meat and Fish. Retail prices are unaltered, but the tendency in the wholesale market is for prices to firm. Last week mutton prices advanced at the Addington market, by from 2s to 3s a head. Beef pfices remained fairly steady. Present indications are that beef will command fairly high prices in the spring. Practically all varieties of fresh fish with the exceptidn of trevalli are. scarce and dear at the present time. Groper iS selling at, Is a lb in the piece and Is 3d for cutlets, trevalli 6d and lOd, ling 9d and soles and groper Is 3d lb. Cod is not obtainable. Regular supplies of oysters come to hand every day Crayfish are fairly plentiful, prices ranging from fid (to Is 6d each. Mutton-birds are still in short supply, the present thrice being about Is 6d each. All the

usual smoked varieties of fish are available. and are meetiing with a good demand.