COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1632, 26 December 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

REGULATION OF .EXHIBITIONS.' An . international agreement for the regulation of exhibitions was' signed at the Intonational Exhibitions Conference held in Berlin towards .the end of October. One of the most important provisions of the agreement ij to the effect that the contracting States may, in,, future only take part in .universal exhibitions at intervals of not less.than; three, years.-and .of. ten. JWT3 in any one 'country; A precise classification determines which international exhibitions shall be -regarded as official or ■ollieially recotntoed. Certain rules are also laid down for the style of invitations to sucli exhibitions, their organisation, duration, the arrangement of- the foreign sections, and specially for the composition nnd. procedure of tho Court of Awards and the distribution of t.ho diplomas. The agreement further contains provisions for combating bogus exhibitions and traffic in medals. Thanks to tht readiness ol all parties -to reach an agreement, the decisions contained in the convention wore arrived at with unanimity. Tho elaboration of the convention' is Teeervcd for future conferences, the present instrument, covering only the principal aspects of the exhibition question without soing into details. RISE IN ANTIMONY.' In tie metal trades the smart rise in the price of antimony which occurred lately did not arouse much as the possibility of a more or less consistent and permanent upward tendency in quotations had been discussed pretty freely for some, time before the movement actually set in. As a matter of fact;'it was generally recognised that for a'rather lengthy period antimony had been selling at rates which were almoi'mally ' low. In late years the value of English refined lias averaged below £!0 per ton, the variation heing between about £27 and £33. Tho last-men-tioned price was not long maintained, as the international syndicate, which was .formed to control market quotations, coon came to grief, whilst supplies at that time wore unwieldy. Latterly, however, the position-lias been strengthened steadily by a gradual' contraction of the available quantity of the metal to comparatively, small dimensions. This, coupled with ,an increasing demand, especially from dealers w.ho had placed contracts well ahead, naturally enabled producers to advance their prices substantially. After selling at under £28 eirrly this year, values for regulus underwent enhancement, iriit.il a few weeks back, holders were firm at from £37 to £<0, and there eeemed every likelihood that, unlees users' needs showed signs of, shrinkage, an''even higher level might ho reached. As to the possibilities in that direction, it may be remembered that, aftor the Russo-Japanese war, antimony ascended iu value'to £130 ner ton, owing to exceptional scarcity, .when Chinese raw. material was almost unobtainable. On that occasion it was -apparent that the speculative clemen. figured conspicuously in market operations, and, given favourable con-ditions,-there is no telling what share infuture manoeuvres may be taken by the same faction. . FEILDING MARKET REPORT. . Messrs; A. H. Atkinson-and Co., Ltd., of Eeilding, report a fair entry of pigs on Friday and a, large penning of poultry. Prices realised 'for nigs showed a slight ■advance on last week's rates, poultry being rather easier. The first consignments of peaches and gooseberries were marketed. A "De Dion" motor car sold at a satisfactory price. Pigs: Suckms, lis., lis. Gd.; weaners, 155., 15s. 6d.; slips, 17s. 6d., IBs., ZCs.; stores, 245., 275.; porkers,.-35=., 395.; sow, 21s. Poultry: Chicks. 9d., is. 3d.; liens. 2s". 3d., to. 6d.. 3s„ 3s. Jd.; roosters, to 45.; ducks, ss. 3d.;, geese, fe. 6d.; swans, 20s. Aged pony, 203. Produce: New potatoes, 9s. to lCs. 6d. per cwt.; cabbages; Id. to 2d. each; green peas, lOd. per peck; wheat, 4s. 6d. to 4s, 9d. per bushel; bran, 55. 6d.; pollard, 11®. fid.; hams, lOd. per lb.; gooseberries, ss". per half-case; peaches, 3s. 6d. to 6s. per case. Customs dutios collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1850 3s. Bd. ' . T. AND. A. ASSURANCE SOCIETY. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. December 25, 5.5 p.m.] , Melbourne, December 25.: At the annual meeting of policy-holders of the Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life ' Assurance Society it was/ agreed that £24,891 should be distributed irf bonuses in tho ordinary department, a-n/1 £8078 in the industrial department-. I Mr. Meeks, the cha.irnl.an, said the tyal-ance-sheet showed a healthy condition of affairs. The . ordinary department's /new business was in excess of the mi/Jion mark, which was tho amount the society had set itself to accomplish. Sailed—Manuka, for Bluff, via Ho'oart. HUGE RETURN FROM BROKEN /HILL. Sydney, Decem/jer lA. During the year Broken Hill m/jies have paid ovor a million and a ha.]/ in dividends. BBBT'SUGAR. / London, December 23. ITcrr F. O. Licht, the well/known siißar 1 expert, of Ma'dcburtr, m his /.nonthJy circular, • states that tho prod/jctinii. of beet susrar in Europe' shows /in increase of 1,322,CC0 tons. He estimates that for the season tliore • yrill be a. .total increase of 2,074,000 tons. / WHEAT. London, Bcnember 24. Wheat, cargoes are -dull, and prices arc easier: o?s. 3d. is asU/:d for Australian December shipments; for January-Febru-ary. nnd 365. 9d. for March-April shipments. BUTTER' AND CJIEFSE. (Eeo. Decow.ber 26 , 0.50 a.m.) London, Rccnmber 25. Tho butter injwket is. lifeless. Danish

is unchanged; Australian, choices', 112s. to 116s.j'New Zealand, 118s. t.o 121*3. Choose is Hat. Now Zealand white i» quoted at 61s„ and coloured nl 625. . IHSB IN CONSOLS. (Hcc. Dcccmlior 26 , 0.60 n,n>,) London, December 25, Impcrio.l 2J per cent. Consols aro quoted at £75. a rtee of 12s. M. since Priday. TUB MIWAIi JIAHKKTH. London, Doeomlier IA. Coppnr.—On spot, £75 12s. Cd.; three months, £76. Tin.—On ppot,' £223 55.; three months, £220 10s. , ' (liec. Dcccmlior 26 , 0.50 n.m.V, London, Dwomlior 25. 'liar silver'' is quoted lit 20 15-16 d. per ounce''Standard. Tin.-On spot, £227 1 ss, i three montlia', £228. £3' 7s, 7d. Lead, £18 2s. tkl.