FAMINE PRICES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 28, 28 October 1907, Page 2

FAMINE PRICES.

That,a country like New Zealand, so abundantly blessed by Nature's bounties, sbould be utterly dependent on other countries for its produce, is, in a way, inexplicable (says the Auckland "Farmers'. Weekly"). AYdro the Auckland province drought- 7 stricken,; quotations could not be much nearer famino price.:than thoyare at present, and have been all the winter. The markets aro almost ./absolutely*'■ibare.-' V/hoat is i purely a' nominal quotation.: Of oats- there are.none.liran, aud pollard are- unknown iji some: of the'stores, since the flour'mills have either -closed, down, .or only. work., halfrtime.. Chaff : . is iiiisuch short. supply,,as to command fancy, prices. Maize- has . gone up sky high as,a, result. of the. shortage in-.other, .and; .ijlie market/generally, ,is; ; in an- extraordinary ( c6ndition.. ; /Thos'e who;ipllpw' up itho ."Farm-:, ,ers' Weekly," commercial .'columns will.liave .noticed the marked 'contrasts '[.which exist,, , between. the, pric.es .to-day, compared '-to those, of twelve"months', back. ■ F.o'wl:.wheat' this' time. last,'. yeair,. was selling ,at.,35.'..9d.: per' bushel; '.to-day , it'',.is.,jiur<bouralile.,|.at ,ss. _ 3d. 'Chaff : is '£2 ton'.xleafer. Maizo cost .63'. per,bushel less. \ Oats were quoted, a-year ago.at 2s. ,6c!..' c.i.f. T6-day' : they' are'".iii' sljor,t' supply''at : 3s, ;9d^ ; c.i.fi'i'PpllarcTis £2;:los; ; 'p;er ! 'tpn : dearer .than it.,,, was'';.this, -,tirii&',' last '.-year,'' and'bran 'has g'oue / 'iip''£!l.'.. Potatoes''alone show a decrease. Twelvo" ! months ago tliey were selling as high as £11 ss. per .ton. , To-day £5 ss. buys the best on pretty : well all of which come tfrom-Australia.' AVith iloinvat- £13,.105.;'; per;tonjt.it-is. cheaper,..tc ,;eat potatoes... In ten" years such.ta-.shortage-,'and such high pricesj'have not been/known-iii ,New .Zealand.; ; ,-Australia.- jdpnrinatesTour mar-,- . kct. ; ,,ln* -fact," we'; rely ■on .the Commonwealth, to. supplement, our wants, in -every ,lino.. r Now that Australian prices .have advanced, w,e. havo no 'alter.na.tiy,e b.ut tqigp up iwith.,them*> AVhilothe far.mer who hplds.any.pf these;lines; is naturally pleased;' a ; sorr,y time.is; being-ex-perienced by' HorseJcedcrs, poultry-farmers, and others.., i. r ., -~■,-,,!■. m_ ! /, ,■•;-:•.'■ .-.■,!•/■•-''.: ;*(