MERCHANDISE MARKS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 12

MERCHANDISE MARKS.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. [THE PEESS Special Service.] 1 AUCKLAND, January 20. c The suggestion that all exports should bear merchandise marks, a matter that t has been frequently discussed by the j Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was \ touched upon by Mr L. B. Beale, British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, in an address to the Chamber todav. '"'lt is a question fraught with many • difficulties," said Mr Beale. "Anything that tends to encourage honest dealing should be encouraged, but the problem is how to apply it. The goods marketed are in two classes, produce and manufactured articles. The last is easy to deal with, but while you can label the carcase in the shop 'New Zealand Lamb,' there is no label for the meat on the plate. Equally, you may have a clear indication in the shop of Canadian' flour, but you cannot tell the origin of the flour in the loaf. "I would like to know a good definition of what basis should be used for marks. Take the case of a pair of stockings. They may contain New Zealand wool, American cotton dye from Switzerland or Germany, and be finished in England. How would you mark that? I confess frankly I am at a loss to know." (Laughter.) Mr Beale added it was difficult also to know whether the standard of marking should be on the basis of the labour or the material used, and in what proportion. The subject was referred to by Mr Hudson in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Beale for his address. The suggestion made by the Chamber, he said, was that manufacturers' costs should be the basis of marking. The tariff authorities had ruled otherwise but the speaker was of the opinion that; had the proposal been adopted, all their difficulties would have disappeared.

DAIRY YIELDS, DENMARK COWS. [THE PBESB Special Service. WELLINGTON, January 20. Regarding the yield o£ the average dairy cw in Denmark a statement made yesterday by the Minister for Agriculture will bo of general interest to New Zealand dairy farmers. • ■ The yield credited to the average cow, he said, is usually exaggerated, ™ d ™ r ' es , aI he way from around 2501b to 4101b of but-Sr-fat, wd is most frequently Quoted at from 3001b to 3501b of butter-fat. Just how far these figures are misleading will he seen by reference to the following figures (figures in parentheses are for 1924, the others for 1925). Total cows in milk in the country -1,390,000 (1,369,000). R Number of dairies reporting statistics Sob . Number of suppliers" represented per facto Number of cows 'represented per factory 937 (911). Number of cows per supplier 6.6 («- 4 >- Total suppliers represented l-O,()Jb Total cows! represented 802,072 (784,371). Percentage of totul milk represented in statistics 58 per cent. (57 per cent.). Average pounds of milk per cow for factories reporting 6274 (6279). Pounds of milk per lb of butter -l.< ( -Aver'ago butter yield (lb) 254.01 (257.33). ■ Average butter-fat . yield (lb) 218.45 (221.30). ~',,' Percentage of Denmark's total milch cows ..represented 58. per cent.■ (57 per cent.). ".The New Zealand factory managers, -continued the Minister, "tell me_ that theit suppliers average 2201b per cow."

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (SPECIAL TO THE PBESS.) INVERCARGILIj, January 20. Oats—This market at present is exceedingly dull, and there is ho business to report'by local merchants for Bhipment, as the prices quoted are below their cost. Northern buyers are indicating 3s 2d per bushel for A Gartons and 2s lid for B's, both for prompt and forward delivery, but merchants .are-not sellers. The prospects for the new season's crop,are very disappointing, and unless there ir* a marked improvement in the demand, prices to farmers will probably be down to 2s 6d a bushel for A's, and correspondingly for B's. • . . Wheat —The only business passing in tins cereal is in sales for local fowl feed. Requirements and Bttpplies for this purpose are being drawn from outside centres, 'lho outlook for the new s'oason's crop is anything but promising. Quotations for Australian wheat on the basis of about 5s 5d per-bushel, f.o.b. Molbourne, are being received, and reports .from Canterbury seem to indicate even lower priceß than those ruling last year. Chaff—The chaff market is well supplied at present. Consequently, merchants are keen buyers, especially in view •of the. fact that the bulk of the storage space is required for wool.. Values to-day are about £3 15s to £i per ton, on trucks country stations. Ryegrass, Perennial and Italian —It.is very difficult to find outlets at present in these markets, the result being that thpy are only saleable at very low figures. A fair proportion of last season's crops ib still Hold py merchants and farmers, and it appears inevitable that prices offered for the new sea-, son's seed must be on a decidedly low scale. It certainly seems likely that prices to farmers will not exceed 2s 6d per bushel for the best perennial, and it is conceived the price may be even lower. is not likely to command more than Is 6d to 2s 6d. Potatoes—There is little to report in this market, the only business being in new potatoes to fill . the local demand. It will be some months yet beforo the main crop is available, and as far as Southland is concerned there are no operations for forward delivery, although apparently a number of transactions has taken place between other South Island centres and the North Island for delivery from April on..- It is too early yet to be able to give a forecast of the probable value of late crop potatoes.

[NVERCARGILL FRUIT MARKET.

(SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.) INVERCARGILL, January 20. Business in the fruit marts has been very brisk during, the past week.' Increased quantities of fruit are arriving daily, and in most instances consignments have been practically cleared upon arrival. Supplios of tomatoes have increased, notably so. from, the Christchurch and Nelson districts, and prices are a shade easier. The earlier reports concerning the suggosted shortage of stone fruits are being- confirmed,-and there is every indication of an acute shortage of. dessert plums, cherry plums, and apricots. Early peaches are fairly plentiful, and are coming forward in full supplies. Strawberries are practically finished for the season. The market is bare of oranges, the first supplies to be expected being duo about next Tuesday. Rarotongan bananas aro expected about the same date, and should realise satisfactory prices. Lemons arc plentiful and reasonable in price. There are full supplies of raspberries and loganberries, while a few glasshouse samples of cucumbers "are arriving daily and meeting with a 6bod demand. Current prices for the week ore as follows :—Apricots, dessert to 7d per lb; peaches, J to sd; second grade, from 3s to 5s a case; cherry plums, to 6d per lb; other varieties, from 3d to sd; late cherries to Is Cd; strawberries (poor samples), lOd to Is 3d; Christchurch tomatoes. Is to Is 4d; Nelson, 5d to 8d; cucumbers, 8s to 12s 6d a dozen; black currants, 3d to 6d; oranges and bananas to arrive; cauliflowers, 4s to 7s a dozen; cabbages, Is to 2s; lettuce, Is to 3s 6d.

PROPERTY SALES BY JONES, M'CROSTIE, LTD.

Following on their auction sale on Saturday, Jones, McCrostie Company, Ltd., report having sold on account of Mr Armstrong, his tiled-roof bungalow of 6' rooms, all offices, motor garage, together with 24 perches of land, situate at the corner of Cliff street and Main Sumner road, Kedcliffs, to Mr Bradloy. In their-sale report which was published during the week they omitted three properties which were sold in conjunction with Messrs Baker Bros.: On account of Mr R. S. Taylor, his bungalow residence' situate in Hinau street, Riccarton, to Mrs Cardwell; on account of Mrs Reed, two fine building sites situate In College avenue, close to St. Andrew's square, to Mr Webb; and on account of the owner,- bungalow of S rooms and kitchenette, toge'thcr with 33 perches of land, situate No. 13 Angela, street, Riccarton, to Mr Blake way. ' —lO

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK EXCHANGE. YESTERDAY'S TRANSACTIONS. Sales reported:—Bank of New South Wales, £47 2s 6d; Kawarau, 3s 9d (two parcels). Sales on 'Change:—National Insurance, 74s (two parcels); Goldsbrough, Mort, 50s; Wilson's Cement, 355; N.Z. Hefrig. (10s paid), 6s (two parcels); Ashburton Gas, £5; British Tobacco, 52 3 9d (two parcels); Christchurch Gas, 265, 25s lid, 265. LATEST QUOTATIONS.

OTHER EXCHANGES. (IKS 3 4SSOCUTIO* TIUOBAMS.) AUCKLAND, January 20. . per cent., £O7 10*. £ New Zealand,' debentures, 24s sfl ß ;.Nat.onal Insurance < . Insur ance, 'rod; Nonhern' Steamship 13s; Wilson, 4d - DUNEDIN, January 20. Salcs _Milburn Limo and Cement Co. oi m- Stanles Brewory, 39s 6u, fltw fand Kef Sting (three parcels). TALLOW SALES. , CABLE-PEBSS ABSOCIXTIOH-COPYBIOHT.), Kstkaliah akp .ha. cabl E ASSOCIATION.) (Received January 20th, 10.55 p.m.) iwetc» u LONDON, January 19. At the tallow sales 1163 casks were offered and 381 sold' Prices were unchanged, and the tendency rather firmer. Ed; the following message from their London office dated January 19th:— TalC-At the weekly auction, 1165 casks of tallow were offered, and 31 per cent, sold. Prices are unchanged. LONDON WOOL SALES. (Received January 20th, 10.55 P.m.) v LONDON, January 19. At the wool sales there was n good general selection, and keen competition, opening rates being fully maintained. New Zealand sales were- Piako to 16d, average 15d; Oweta to Isd? average 17d; S.T. to 17id, average 16d; Pine Farm, 231 d.

Pvne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd.. have received a cablegram from London, under date January 19th, as follows:—The wool sales opened with a' large attendance and keen competition. Prices for merino were 5 per cent, and fine crossbred par to 5 per cent, dearer. Other sorts were unchanged. There was a good selection. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. (Received January 20th, 10.4Q p.m.) SYDNEY, January 20. Wheat—The market is depressed, quotations being 4s 7Jd a bushel at country Btations, equal to 5s 2Jd on trucks at Sydney. ; Flour —£13 a ton. Maize —8s 2d to 8s 3d a bushel. I Potatoes —Tasmanian £l9 to £2O a ton, i Victorian £lB. Onions —£9 a ton. , ADELAIDE, January 20. Wheat—Growers' lots, 5s ljd to 5s 2d a bushel, parcels 5s 3id a bushel. Oats—2s 4d to 2b 6d a bushel.

Buyers. Sellers. | £ s. d. £ s. d. .Z. GOVT. DEBENTURES-. 4* per cent. Inscribed, "1938 9G 5 0 96 15 0 4J per cent. Bonds, 193S 90 10 0 97 0 0 4'; ner cent. Bonds, 1939 96 10 0 — 5 per cent. Inscribed, 1927 9D 2 6 100 0 0 5 per cent; Inscribed, 19-29 98 5 0 99 0 0 5 per cent. Bonds, 1927 99 5 0 99 15 0 5J per cent. Inscribed, > 1933 — 101 5 0 5} per cent. Bonds, 1933 101 2 6 101 10 0 o\ per cent. Inscribed, 193C 101 0 0 — )THER DEBENTURESKotorua Borough 6 per cent., 1961 100 10 0 — N.Z. Breweries, Inscr. 1 4 5 14 9 N.Z. Breweries, Bonds 1 4 7 14 9 3ANKSAnst. Bank of Coram. 1 13 0 1 14 0 Australasia 14 2 0 — Comm. of Aust 1 13 1 1 13 6 Comrn. of Aust. (pref.) 6 18 6 7 4 0 Comm. of Sydney 26 17 6 27 5 0 B., S.; and A. — 8 10 6 National of Australasia (£10 paid) 18 8 0 18 15 0 National of. Australasia • (£5 paid) 9 4 0 9 9 0 National of N.Z. 7 2 0 7 3 6 New South Wales 46 17 6 47 5 0 New Zealand 2 19 0 2 19 2 New Zealand Mortgage (shares) 0 n 8 0 12 3 Royal (£l paid) 1 17 0 1 18 0 Union of Aust. . 15 10 0 15 11 0 Victoria (ord.). • 9 17 0 — Victoria (pref.) 20 5 0 21 0 0 Western Australian .. 2 14 0 2 14 6 INSURANCE— National , 3 13 10 3 14 2 | New Zealand (ciini div.) ' 1 17 4 1 17 7 Standard 2 17 6 2 17 9 LOAN AND AGENCY— Dalgety and Co. 15 5 0 15 12 6 Goldsb'rough, Mort 2 9 9 2 10 2 National Mortgage — 3 3 0 SHIPPING- : Howard,' Smith .1 12 9 1 13 3 Huddart-Parker 2 7 3 2 8 0 Hxiddart-Parkcr (pref.) 1 ° 9 — P. and 0. Deferred .. — 230 0 0 Union (pref.) 1 0 2 FROZEN MEAT- ' Canterbury .. 7 15 0 8 10 0 N.Z. Refrig. (paid) .. 0 11 0 0 14 0 N.Z. Refrig. (contr.) .. , 0 5 8 0 6 1 WOOLLENS0 10 6 1 0 4 4 Kaiapoi (173 paid) .. — Kaiapoi (7s paid) 0 3 GAS0 5 0 0 0 16 1 Ashburton 4 19 Christchurch . 1 6

BREWERIES- ' down Manning New Zealand 0 1(5 0 2 12 6 0 18 6 1 0 0 2 13 0 2 0 0 Staples 2 2 0 Ward CEMENTS— Milburn Lime (rights) WilBon's 0 3 8 1 14 10 0 4 5 1 15 3 TIMBERKauri 16 6 18 6 MISCELLANEOUS1 8 0 15 6 1 12 0. 2 12 9 2 10 56 15 0 Allied Motors Beath and Co. 1 11 0 British Tobacco BurnB, Phill> 2 12 6 2 0 0 55 15 0 Colonial Sugar «• Dualop Rubber Electro;'Zino (ord.) 1 10 3 1 16 6 1 17 3 1 17 7 Electro. Zinc (pref.) 1 17 0 Glenmoro Brick 1 5 0 2 9 1 Henry Jones Mason, Struthera (JC1 1 2 6 15 0 paid) ' Mason, Struthcrs (148 0 14 6 0 15 3 Mason. Struther's paid) Merc. Finance (5s *N.Z. Drug Co. (l'bV paid) 0 10 6 0 3 10 3 10 6 011 ;.l' 0- 4 8 3 11 6 1 0 3 prcm. N.Z. Drug Co. (nc« 7) '.'. N.Z. Guarantee Ccrpn. 0 10 1 0 10 5 Whitcombo and Tombs 3 10 '0 MINING— Albumin Alexander Sline3 0 3 3 0 3 7 0 10 0 0 3 9 Kawarau Mt. Lycll 18 0 18 3