The upshot of the whole matter is that the newspaper publishers and the mill operators have appointed such committees which who will go exhaustively into the problem. A joint meeting will be held at an early date before R. W. Breadner, who is the tariff expert for the Dominion and the question of supply, cost and future outlook will be canvassed thoroughly. This meeting will be held in Ottawa and if an amicable arrangement cannot be reached, the federal authorities may fix the selling price.
One interesting statement was made at the conference and that was if the fifty to sixty per cent. increase went into effect on new contracts, it would mean an annual extra cost to Canadian newspapers of about two million dollars. One peculiar feature is that while publishers are talking of increased cost of producing papers the weekly newspaper men are the only ones who have so far raised their subscription rates. The increase is from one dollar to one dollar and half a year. A few dailies that have been selling at three dollars in the smaller cities have jumped their subscription price to four dollars but the larger dailies still continued to be delivered at the old price and the wonder is why the proprietors do not raise the figure for same.
In the book and writing line prices are stiff and are now fully fifty per cent. higher than they were a year ago. The producers think there will be no further raise for some months and in view of abnormal conditions generally the users of these kinds of papers appear to be satisfied that the mills are not asking too much. Tissue plants are running away behind in orders and have business enough on hand to keep them going for the next four months even if no more orders were placed with them. The jobbers report that business is good and the demand for all lines of paper keeps up well. There has been an advance on “B” manilla but other lines of wrappings and kraft remain unchanged.
Ground wood pulp is in strong requisition and many inquiries for the commodity can not be bought filled. The price now quoted at the mill is from twenty-eight dollars up and some deliveries in Wisconsin and other states have brought as high as thirty-five dollars. Easy bleaching sulphite is now sold at one hundred and twenty dollars at the mill and some large business has been placed at this figure. Sulphate pulp is quoted at one hundred and twenty dollars at the mill and is going higher all the time. Very little is being offered.
In the rag and paper stock market manilla, krafts, whites and mixed papers are all in strong demand and there is a good business being done. The market for cotton and roofing rags is rather quiet. The outlook for fall trade at firm prices is most promising.
There has been an increase of a cent a pound on all natural, bleached and half bleached grease proof. Genuine vegetable parchment is now quoted from twenty to twenty-five cents. It is likely that the latter will be made in Ontario before very long. Since the war broke out and certain mills turned their attention to making specialties and former brands of paper that have been imported, the manufacturers of these are not sorry that they took the step. Their goods now have achieved a fixed place in the favor of customers.
Board of all kinds has taken a jump of about fifteen per cent. and the mills are a way behind in their orders. The following prices will prevail until the end of the year and are based on the minimum quantity of car load lots—grey folding pulp board $100; folding pulp $90; pulp non bending $80; pulp non bending lined on side $90; filled board plain $80; filled board lined one side $85; filled board (chip mills) $78; jute, chip, straw and straw chip $70; same lined one side $75.
The following are the Toronto prices:
Paper.
| News (rolls) $3.00 up, at mill, in carload lots. | |
| News (sheets), $3.25 and higher for small lots, at mill, in carload lots. | |
| Book papers (carload), No. 3, $7.00. | |
| Book papers (ton lots), No. 3, 7.00c to 8.00c. | |
| Book papers (carload), No. 2, 8.50c to 9.00c. | |
| Book papers (ton lots), No. 2, 8.75c to 9.50c. | |
| Book papers (carload), No. 1, 9.00c to 9.75c. | |
| Book papers (ton lots), No. 1, 9.25c to 10.00c. | |
| Sulphite bonds, 11 cents up. | |
| Writings, 9 cents up. | |
| Grey Browns | $3.75 to $4.25 |
| Fibre | $6.50 to $7.50 |
| Manila, No. 1 | $7.00 to $8.00 |
| Manila, B. | $5.00 to $6.00 |
| Unglazed Kraft | $8.50 to $9.50 |
| Glazed Kraft | $9.00 to 10.00 |
| Tissues, bleached | $1.60 to $2.30 |
| Tissues, (manila or white sulphite) | $1.20 to $1.60 |
| Tissues, cap. | 80c to $1.15 |
| Natural, greaseproof | 13c to 18c |
| Half Bleached Greaseproof | 15c to 19c |
| Bleached greaseproof | 17c to 21c |
| Genuine Vegetable Parchment | 22c to 25c |
| Drug papers, whites and tints | 9c to 12c |
| Paper bags, Manila | 30% discount. |
| Paper bags, kraft | 15% discount. |
| Confectionery bags | 15% discount. |