COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2968, 4 January 1917, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

TRADE AFTER THE WAR. In the Tinited States there has been a considerable diecussion upon trade after the war, and the fear has been expressed, ae in England and elsewhere, that the country might be flooded with low-priced' European goods. Dr. Pratt, Ohief of the TJ.B. Bureau of Commerce, says this fear is based upon two untenable pre- ' miEes, one being that the products of a nation can be exported before its domestic needs are satisfied, and the other that the European nations have the requisite row materials from which to manufac- ' turo finished products. As hearing on these points, he said thoiti, according to his information, the shelves of wholesale and retail houses/in Europe (ft'o fairly stripped; that msohlnery of obsolete design is being pressed into service, and that makeshifts are resorted to at every turn. The men who have> composed the business organisations of European manufacturing concerns are, he says, iu tho armies; machinery, rolling-stock, equipment of all kinds have been operating without repairs- and -without renewals, and every one of the great European nations is piling up great debts, which, will be paid off by taxes that -will bear heavily on business and industry for the next fifty to one hundred years. In his view, too, wages and interest rates will increase considerably -when tho war is over. V It '-.is quite certain that when tho war ends) Europe will have to xestock -with materials,' repair and restart machinery, put shipping in order, and to a considerable extent have to teach soldiers new trades before it would be poesiblo to flood the world with new products, and suoh fears are groundless. But whether the debts and interest rates will affect trade for many years is quite another proposition, and Dr. Piatt'a dictum on those points may in part bo falsified. Wages and cost may inorenao, hit the effect would be to reduce the pnvHiirc of the debts by augmenting gross earnings. ■ HIGH COILMISSIONER'S MARKET REPORTS. The Department of Agriculture, Industries,.ana Commerce has, received tho following cablegram, da-ted London, December 22. from the High Commissioner for New Zealand. (Note: Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot.).— Meat—There is a good demand for New Zealand mutton aud lamb, supplies of which aro small. Prices remain unchanged. Lower prices are being accepted for Home-killed and Argentine beef, owing to large supply. New Zealand mutton, per lb., 83*1.; ewe mutton, Bd.; Argentine mutton, heavy-weiglit Bid.,.liehtweight Bid.; N.Z. lamb. 9ii.; Australian larab>9Jd.; Argentine lamb, 9d.; N.Z. beef, no supplies available. Argentine chilloi beef, hinds 9£d., fores 7Jd. Butter.—Tho market continues firm. Danish, per cwt., 2205. to 2225.; Australian, 2065. to 2085.; unealted, 210e. to 2125.; New Zealand, 210s. to 2145.; unsalted, 2145. to 2165.; Argentine, 2065. to 2085.,; unsalted, 210s. to 2125. Oheese—Tho markot continues firm. Canadian, while 1325. to 1345., coloured 1325. to 1346.; English Cheddar. 1365. to KOs.; New Zealand, no quotations ■week. Hemp.—Tho market is quiet, but ;U't>dy, at a flight fall in urices ell round. 3)uyers are uncertain as to Government action with ftfiord to freights. Quotations arc nominal. Sood-fair New Zealand hemp, per ton, £58; fair, £55; Government graded fair Manila. £59 10a.; coarse, £57; Janu-ary-March shipment, Rood-fair New Zealand, £54; fair, £52; Government graded fair Manila, £58; coarse, £55. The output of hemp at Manila, for the week endedlast Saturday was 19.0C0 bales. Wheat—The market is firm. Government continues offering (mutilated werd). Nominal value New Zealand long-berry wheat, on spot, 80s. . Outs—The market is firm, witn a rood demand for all Jvew Zealand, on spot,- 60s. Wool—The market is strong. I The following cablegram, dated London December 22, from tho High Commissioner has also been received:— Moat.—All descriptions o£ frozen meat aTe in active demand, owing to short supplies of Home-killed mutton and beef, as a result of railway communication being interrupted. Home-killed' mutton, per lb., Is. 2d.; Home-killed beef, Is. Id.; New Zealand mutton, 83-Bd.; ewe mutton, Bd.- Argentine mutton, heavy-weight 68d., light-weight 9<1.; New Zealand lamb, 9Jd.; Australian lamb, 9*d.; Argentine- lamb, 9Jd • New Zealand beef, no supplies available. ATgentine chilled beef, hinds lOjd forces Bgd.; American pork, weighing 801b. to IOOnC 10d. - . . Butter—The market is quiot. Danish, per cwt., 218s. to 2205.; Dutch, 2105.; uusalted. 2125. j- Australian, 2065. to 2085.; unEalted 208s. to 2125.; Now Zealand, 210s. to 2145.; -unsalted, 2125. to 2145.; Argentine, 2045. to 2065.; unsalted, 210s. to 2125.; American creamery, 1925. to 1945. Cheese.—The market continues firm. There is little business doing. Canadian, white and coloured, per cwt., 1325. to 1345.; English Cheddar. 1365. to 1405.; Dutch Oheddar, 1285.. to 1325. All cheese ex Turakina has been commandeered by the lmnorial Government. . Hemp.—The markot is very quiet. There is nothing doing on acoount of the holidays, but prices are -woll maintained. Wheat.-The market remains firm. Offerings aro very smalL Oats.-There is a firm. market with a cood demand. . . . Wool.—Cannot give quotations during present condition of tho market. Customs duties collected at tho port of Wellington yesterday amountedtfo £4360 193. 10d. ' STOCKS AND SHARES. (Eco. January 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 2. Tho middle pricos yesterday were:— Bank of Australasia, £111 Ms.; Bank of, New South Wales, £35 10s.; National Bank,. £4 15s ex dividend; New Zealand Loan ui Mercantile, debentures £69 ordinal £84, ex dividend.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. TALLOW STATISTICS. (Rec. January 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 2. The tallow stock totals 10,587 tons; landed, 2073 tons; delivered, 2463 tons.-Aus, N.Z. Cable Assn: , WOLFRAM AND MOLYBDENITE. (Ecc. January 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 2. Molybdenite Is quoted at 105n.. and Wolfram at 555. per unit.-AuE.-N.i. Cablo Assn. WHEAT. . New York, January 5. nhicaeo wheat options are quoted as lowest! 143ccn£H-Aus.N.Z. Pablo Assn.