CANTERBURY MARKETS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 12

CANTERBURY MARKETS

little speculation. (BY OCT, COMMBECUI IDITOH.) * Friday Evening. Produce is now commencing to come forward, samples of Algerian and white oats, perennial ryegrass, and chaff having been shown during the week, but there is toi big a spread between growers' and merchants' ideas to lead to much business. Wheat Sales. The free selling of wheat mentioned in otir mid-week report was continued on Wednesday, there being a fairly heavy disposal to merchants at os 6d on trucks. "With the very lame official explanation made during the week by tho Acting-Prime Minister as to the existence of flour dumping from Australian farmers cannot anticipato any immediate relief and are letting their wheat, go. Whilst the Government is steadily "watching the position" the wheat crop is coming on tho market, and many growers have 110 recourse but to accept a price on a parity with the cost of Australian dumped flour. A Shallow Explanation.

Tho Minister's explanation of the difference in the price of Melbourne domestic flour and tho exported article indicates that he has not sought far for his information. Uis suggestion that the £3 a ton difference is duo to tho provision that has to be made for bad debts, and to tho distributing of the flour "over a certain radius" is too superficial for serious consideration. The weekly commercial reports in tho Melbourne papers state plainly that "for a minimum quantity of three tons, 'cash with order,' the price is 5s less." So the bad debt provision is measured by 5s a ton. Again, instead of the rather indefinite allusion by tho Minister to the area over which the flour is distributed free, the weekly report states plainly it is "Melbourne or suburbs." This cost could only be a degree greater than it would be to distribute in Christchurch, and certainly no more than it would be to put flour f.o.b. Lyttelton. But if it amounted to another 5s a ton, this accqunts altogether for 10s of_ tho £3 the Minister attempts to explain away. Ten days ago, when flour was being quoted to New Zealand at £ll 7s 6d a ton, old season's flour was quoted in Melbourne for domestic consumption at £l4 10s net. and new season's at £l3 10s. delivered "Melbourne or suburbs." The most charitable explanation of the | Minister's statement is that it was i handed on from a subordinate. The Wheat Crop. ! Wheat-cutting is now in full swing, Although there aro instances of fungoid troubles, such is not general." Particularly good yields are assured Mi the medium and light, land.' Oats. Samples of Algerians and Garton bats have coino to hand from Ashburton, and sales of Algerians havo been made . at 2s 3d to 2s 4d on trucks. Gartons are a particularly good sample, and aro quoted at 2s 7d to 2s 8d on trucks. Merchants are shy of business at 3s 2d to 3s 3d f.o.b. s.i. Tho yields so, far are well up to forecasts. Some excellent samples of chaff have comb to hand—good, bright, and clean, if somewhat on the light side. On trucks quotations are £3 5s a ton. Seeds. Clover crops are now'in the', flowef stage 1 , but forecasts of prices are not promising. There is a fine showing of white clover, though in districts it is carrying a heavy proportion of suckling. Perennial ryegrass was offered during the week. It was very light, ranging from 191b,t0 211b to the bushel. Peas are a shade quieter than early in the week, and are quoted at 6s 9d to 6s 10s on trucks.

Potatoes and Onions. Reports in, Australian papers indicate an improved crop position over there, and Victoria will probably be enabled to supply Sydney by the time the New Zealand main crop comes in. ■ The price, however, is at present so exceptionally high that some trading has been done with Sydney at £6 i.o.b. Lyttelton, or up to £9 Sydney. On the other side is the fact that blight has made its appearance very early this year in some Canterbury districts. It is not'of much severity, so far, but may develop under'the'conditions prevailing The bulk of crop* are looking well. Very severe blight is reported also to have broken out in the Pukekohe crops, the season there having been abnormally wei. This should mean,an earlier Auckland-call on the Canterbury market than last' year In. the meantime speculation is dead. Quotations on trucks are £3 os, to. £3 7s 6d a ton. at which price farmers are not in the least bit disposed to sell. Onions are quoted at £4 10s on trucks for M"rch-April. Crops look good, but blight has made its appear- | ance to a small extent. ' .

Quotations. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated: — / Wheat —New season's 5s 6d per bushel on trucks for Tuscan. Oats—bartons up to 2s 5d to 2s 8d per bushel; Algerians 2s 3d. 7 Chaff—£3 os per ton. Potatoes—£3 5s to £3 7s 6d per ton. Onions —New season's £4 10s. - Red Clover —8d to Bjd ner lb. White Clover —8d per lb. Perennial Ryegrass —Up to 3s per j bushel. Partridge Peas —6s lOd. Barley—os per bushel. Italian Ryegrass—2s per bushel. Cocksfoot —Cld to 7d per lb. Linseed—£l2 to £l3 per ton. Bran—£7 per ton f.o.b. southern ports; 10s extra for smaller packings. Pollard—£lo per ton f.o.b. southern ports: 10s extra for smaller packings. Flour—Local wholesale price £lB per ton for 2001b sacks. ASHBURTON MARKET. With the advent of better harvesting weather, stacks, principally of oats, aro making their appearance in all parts of the county, and in somo instances threshing has been done. However, very few actual threshed samples have been submitted to merchants, the majority 60 far shown having been rubbed out. Those from the jcoastal districts are not of very good quality, but a number of excellent samples has come in from Winchtnoro. Threo is expected to be a great deal of chaff cut on account of the . abnormal growth of straw, but there is not nearly the quantity of chaff sold now as compared with a few years ago. In very few instances have better crops of Partridge peas been grown in the-Ashburton County than this year. Heavy yields are expected with barley, most of which is grown by contract. 1 here is abundanco of grass seed about, and it has been an exceptionally good 6oason for danthonia. Enquiries aro being received for new season's produce, and a little forward business has been done in wheat, but with the approach of tho harvest of this commodity millers are reducing their offers, and consequently transactions aro decreasing. The following prices are quoted on trucks, country stations, sacks extra, unless otherwise stated: — Wheat —New season's nominally on too basis of 5s 6d for Tuscan. Oats—A grade Gartons 2s 7d, B's 2b 4d, good, clean Algerians 2s 2d to 2s 3d, feed 2s, good,' dark, heavy Dung 2s 6d, feed 2s to 2s 3d. ■ Grass-seed —Porennial 2s fld to 3s, best quality la 9il to 2s for Western Woltlis and Italian, cocksfoot Cd per lb for good samples. Barley—ss per bushel for good quality, Is for feed. . , , , Partridge Peas—6s 3d to 6b 6d por bushel. Chaff—Now season's £3 5s per ton for good bright oatsheaf. Potatoos—Now season's (main crop; £8 5s per ton.

VITAL NEED OP [THE PRESS Bp«ci|) WELLINGTON, At tho meeting of Export Control Board onlEs§l*'' Mr G. Shirtcliffo (chairtiuti) den., and Mr H. Vickw^fg, Scientific^ Research Coundt^^g the measures of desire^of nominate a fer mth tho Council on was expressed nt^tho tory delays being encottnt^^^S m*ded research *irT' Waikato. Tho industt^ffffjwp'i to undertake certain workSsfSlll A committee. Winks. Goodfeliow and * scT *rr to ] j BANK OF ENGLAND (avstiialiav AND The following returns for the week endedwjOHH Total Proportion of reserve to Short i loans are- quoted three months' bills at 4 GOVERNMENT The following are the Government eocuritic a comMMSwiflHl prices ruling on January I^M|H Ctommomvealth. SJ p.o, .Kyy Victoria, Si p.c., Victoria, 42 P-c-> Victoria, 8i p.c.^ Soutlr Australia, 6i p e South Australia, 3j P c West Autftrali*, 18J - FOREIGN EXC^^B|H