Page 48 Advertisement 2

New Zealand Tablet, 19 August 1915, Page 48

Why Tea Costs More A Statement that Every Housewife Should Read The war lias faced every tea merchant with the problem of increasing prices or reducing his quality. He has to follow one course or the other — there’s no escape—for the wholesale cost of tine tea in Eastern markets has increased over 2id. per lb. since August last. The main reason for this rise has been the greatly increased demand —and the fact that tea production cannot materially increase lor at least live years. Take for instance the enormous quantity of tea required for the men in the trenches and on active service. It is readily seen why tea has been selected as the soldiers’ beverage—it is easily transported— is quickly and readily prepared anywhere—and above all it is invaluable for its invigorating and stimulating qualities. With the exception of 3 million Britishers, but few of the 25 million men under arms in Europe to-day were previously tea drinkers —yet almost in a day tea had to be found for them. Do you wonder then, that the tea has gone up, up, up in price? — that to-day fine tea costs the packer in New Zealand on the average 2|d. to 3d. per lb. more than in August last. Add to this Russia’s 160 millions, who, with a stroke of the pen, have been turned into tea drinkers by the Vodka prohibition add a score of minor causes and you will see why the increase had to come. Therefore, too, you will see that any tea giving value for the money