DEARER "SMOKES"

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14264, 15 January 1920, Page 6

DEARER "SMOKES"

INCREASE IN PRICES. SHOETAGE OF SUPPLIES. Smokers must be prepared for a still further increase in the price of their smokes. A Waikato Times reprosentative was informed by the representative of a well-known wholesale firm to-day that owing to shortage of supplies, there was a general rise in the price of cigarettes and all cut and plugtobaccos. The increase placed on cigarettes is 7s lOd per 1000, which means that jJnokers of this variety will now have to pay Id extra per packet of 10 cigarettes. As the ruling price of popularbrands is Bd, Ihe cost for the future will be 9d, an advance of 3d, or 50 per cent since pre-war days, when cigarettes were 0d a packet. Pipe smokers will have to face a more serious increase, however. The advance on all cut tobaccos is Is 7d per lb, which means that the tin of tobacco now costing 2s 4d will be increased by 33, making the cost, 2s if the retailers intend to deal, as is done in the Old Country, in farthings, while for plug the increase is Is 4d. The reporter was also informed that there lias been a distinct shortage of popular tobaccos for a considerable time past, and wholesale firms have more than once been out of supplies. The shortage has been attributed to bad crops and a deficiency in the supply of labour, but the remark was also made that now prices' have increased more supplies may reach New Zealand.