CANTERBURY MARKETS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19150, 5 November 1927, Page 16

CANTERBURY MARKETS

JUMP IN POTATO PRICES. (bt oub commercial zditob.) Friday Evening. The event of the week has been the jump in the potato market —too late, however, to be of much benefit to anybody. It was stated a few months ago that an end-of-season "kick'' was not improbable, but it has been too long delayed. However, thanks to the continued demand from Auckland on account of the partial failure of the Pukekohe crop, the few holders who have hung on grimly will come out much better than was ever expected l . Pukekohe reports for some time have indicated that the new season's crop would be up to a month later, implying that southern potatoes would be wanted until fairly well on in November, but as only odd lots have been required in the past after the commencement of that month the northern merchants did not realise the wisdom of making provision for a week or two ahead. The result is that the few consigned tubers going north were insufficient to meet the needs of the city, and a sudden shortage was created. A week ago it was recorded that Auckland merchants were enquiring with more freedom and the price had advanced from £4 to £4 5s a ton f.0.b., s.i. On Monday another os advance was recorded, with up to a 10s improvement practically each day in the week until this afternoon, when £6 10s f.0.b., s.i., was being paid. This represents an advance of £2 10s in eight days. The scarcity of potatoes in Auckland when the shortage developed sent values there up to £8 a ton.

The spurt in values may be shortlived, as it is rarely that more than odd parcels go north so late in the season. On the other hand, the Pukekohe crop is exceptionally late, and this is what rules the position. Estimates of southern stocks have been so much at variance this season that no opinion can be offered as to the supplies to meet a few weeks' demand, but if the reports of holdings which have been current for some time are approximately correct the Auckland shortage is likely to met by the next boat leaving Lyttelton. There is a suggestion that no such plenitiidte exists. It is unfortunate tliat the jump in prices affects only a matter of, at most, a couple of thousand tons of the 135,0C0 ton crop. The experience may be useful in persuading northern merchants not to "sit back" to such an extent in the future. In the meantime growers can obtain up to £5 a ton on trucks.

Wheat and Seeds. The forward wheat market is a shade easier, and 6s f.o.b. is a shade beyond what millers and merchants are prepared to pay. Oats and chaff are very dlull, prices tending to ease, whilst seeds remain firm at late quotations. Some forward business has been done in peas at from 7s to 7s 2d f.0.b., s.i. A good deal of contract growing has been undertaken at 5s 6d to b's on trucks.

Quotations. ' The following are quotations for,produce, to be paid to farmers, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated : Wheat—6s 3d per bushel for Tuscan; up to 6s 6d for Hunters. Oats—Gartons 2s 6d to 2s 9d a bushel; Algerians 2s 6d to 2s 9d; Duns, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Chaff—£3 per ton. Potatoes—£s per ton. Red Clover—To lOd per lb. White Clover—Bd to 9d. Perennial Ryegrass—2s 6d to 2s lOd per bushel. Italian Ryegrass—ls 6d to Is lOd per bushel. Cocksfoot —7d per lb. Linseed —Up to £l3 10s per ton. Bran—£s 10s per ton, f.0.b., southern ports s 10s extra for smaller packings. Pollard—£7 10s per ton, f.0.b., southern porta; 10s extra for smaller packings. Flour—Local wholesale price, £l7 10s per ton foj 2001b sacks, with the usual increments for smaller packings. Price for shipment £l7 10s per ton, freight paid to main New Zealand ports.

POULTRY AND EGGS. A large yarding of poultry came forward for this week's sales, but the demand was good, and prices were again high for good quality birds. The following prices were realised per pair:—Table chickens, light 7s to 9s 6d, heavy 10s to 13s 6d; hens, light 5s 6d to 7s Gd, heavy 8s Gd to 10s: ducks 7s 6d to 9s 6d, ducklings, 8s to 12s Gd; geese, 7s to 8s; turkey, hens 16s to 235, gobblers 30s to 455. The egg market is well supplied, but as the demand is good prices remain the same as last week. The Canterbury Co-operative Poultry Producers, Ltd., quote , the following prices per dozen:—First grade hen eggs Is 6d, second grade Is 4Jd, and duck eggs Is 6d. Messrs Maefarlane and Co., Ltd., quote the following prices per dozen:—First grade hen eggs Is 6d, second grade Is sd, duck eggs Is Gd.

DUNEDIN. [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, November 4. Wheat—Local millers continue to keep off the whoat market, and one large firm at least has enough wheat to keep it going till the next harvest'is available. Not many farmers' lines aro on offer. Tuscan is worth round about Cs 6d on trucks country sidings, and Hunters 6s 8d to 6s lOd. There are not many lines of Velvet offering, ami these are worth 7s per bushel and over. Oats—Few shipments of oats are being made to the North Island. The Manuka took about 2000 sacks o£ A grado Gartons to Melbourne. This shipment will almost clean up local holdings. A Gartons are worth 3s 5d f.0.b.5.i., and B's 3s 3d. These prices are equivalent to 2s 8d and 2s 6d on trucks country sidings, Backs extra. ' Chaff—Consignments of chaff are on the light side, but are sufficient to meet the demand. Potatoes —The potato market has taken a sudden jump upwards. Auckland merchants have been active during the past few days The market has advanced about £2 per ton for fair average quality, tubers which were saleable at £4 5s f.0.b., sacks included, earlier in the week. Good freshly-picked lines are worth £o 10s to £5 15s per ton, bags in er trucks Dunedin. '

Seeds—There- is nothing to report in the seed markets. Values remain unchanged from last week. /

SKIN SALE.

. Messrs H. Matson and Co. report that at the weekly skin sale held on Thursday there was a total offering of 5840 dry and 1179 green skins, 140 bags of wool, and six bales of crutchings. There was a good attendance of buyers, who were eager to procure dry skins and woof oddments, but green skins had few friends, and again showed a slight easing in prices.

The range of values was as follows:—Snper halfbred to 15d, full-woolled halfbred 133 d to 14Jd, half-woolled halfbred lid to 133 d short-woolled halfbred 8d to IOJd fullwoolled three-quarterbrcd 12d to halfwoolled three-quarterbred lOd to lljd.'shortwoolled three-quarterbred 7Jd to 9id, fullwoolled crossbred lOd to 12Jd, short-woolled crossbred 7Jd to OJd, hoggets 13d to 14d, merino 12Jd to 14d, inferior skins 2s 6d to 6s 6d, dry pelts Is 5d to 2s 7d, green pelts 2s 9d to 3s Id, lambs 2s 9d to 3s Id, green halfbred, best 13s lOd to 17s, lighter 9s to 13s Sd; green three-quarterbred, best lis lid to 15s 7d, lighter 7s 8d to lis sd; green crossbred, best lis id to 12s lid, lighter 7s 5d to 10s 8d; bag wool crutchings, halfbred to 12d, three-quarterbred to 9ijd, crossbred to 81d; dead wool lid to 17Jd, merino to 20d. 6

LINSEED. The Department of Agriculture has received the following' cablegram, dated Ist instant, from Messrs Landflle, Clark and Co., Calcutta':— Linaeed—We quote £l6 2a 6d per ton net C. and F. Sydney, for immediate shipment* • Market dull.