GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 15

GRAIN AND PRODUCE

INCREASED WHEAT ACREAGE WEAK DEMAND FOR CHAFF Bray Bros, report: The continuation of fine weather has resulted in deliveries of seed wheat still being made to farmers for sowing. The extent of these deliveries would! go to show that in the Otago district there will be a substantial increase in the acreage for the coining season. The fowl wheat market is quiet. Best quality is quoted on a basis of 5s fid to Es 9d a bushel (sacks extra), ex store. These values can only be obtained for good quality. Lines out of condition or not properly filled are difficult to sell. Wholesale prices for flour, etc., are;— Flour.—2oo’s, £l3 15s 6d; 100’s, £l4 12a 6d; 50’s, £l4 17s fid; 25’s, £ls 7s 6d. Pollard, £6 15s a ton of 2,0001 b. Bran, £5 5s a ton of 2,0001 b. Oatmeal. —2001 b sacks, £27 14s a ton f 251 b loose, £29 4s; 251 b, packed in sacks of eight, £29 14s. Ths oat market continues firm. Shipping prices are on a basis of 4s Bd, f.0.b., s.i., for, A Gartons, and 4s 5d to 4s 6d, f.0.b., s.i., for B’s. These prices are equivalent to 3s 9d and 3s fid respectively on trucks, coun. try sidings (sacks extra). Heavier quality: oats suitable for milling bring higher prices than those named above. There is little life in the chaff market. The stores ara holding ample supplies, with/quotations unaltered at £6 10s a ton (sacks extra), ex truck. Small lots are saleable at £7 a ton (sacks extra), ex store, the shipping trade to the North Island has eased. Sales have been made from Canterbury ports on. a basis of £7 a ton, f.0.b., s.i. The' stores are holding full supplies of potatoes, and the market continues depressed. At this time of the year potatoes ara commencing to grow in the sacks, and merchants are forced to accept the best offers available to effect a clearance. The wholesale seed markets are experiencing a quiet period. Most merchants ara fully stocked, and are disinclined to operate further in trie seed market until they can make a clearancp of their existing supplies, APPLE SUPPLIES LIMITED. The last shipment of navel oranges which were repacked by instructions of tbe Internal Marketing 'Division has now been all disposed of to retailers. Good reports have been received on the sweetness of thashipment. Valencias will compose all chief supplies of the next shipment. During tha week consignments of grapefruit in excellent' condition realised a satisfactory price for the consignor. A small consignment of Australian lemons, which arrived in good condition, had to be rationed to retailers. Tbe market is now being Supplied with New Zealand lemons, and prices are firmer as compared with those of the same period last year. Limited supplies only of apples are now reaching the market, principally ex cool store. Prices remain firm. Small lota of pears have been received ex cool store; prices are high. A fair proportion of tha fruit is in an over-ripe condition, and repacking has to be resorted to. Tbe market is again bare of supplies of bananas. Asparagus remains high in price. Heavy supplies of cauliflowers are coming to band, and prices eased. Spring cabbages are mors plentiful, and Savoys are offering at low rates. Consignments of celery are falling off. Rhubarb has been in good supply, and the quality compares more than favourably' with that of last year. Carrots, swedes, and parsnips are still selling at low rates. Leek* are also low in price. The auction martt have had a worrying time in clearing sup plies of vegetables, and. with the exceptioi of rhubarb and lettuce, unprofitable price 1 for growers have had to be realised. Wholesale prices are:— Cauliflowers, 5s to 7s fid a sack. Lettuces, Is 6d to 4s XOd a dozen. Carrots, 9d to Is a dozen. Cabbages, 2s to 2s 6d a sack. Onions, 11s a bag. Spinach, Ts fid to 2s a dozen. Swedes, Is 3d to Is 6d a bag. Asparagus, 3s to 3s fid a lb. Rhubarb, 3s fid to 4s fid per dozen; Si to 31d per lb. Kggs, market price. Potatoes, £3 to £4 a ton. Pineapples, 22s fid to 28s a case. Lemons, oranges, bananas, and applet are at Government fixed prices. Tomatoes. —Raratongan, 15s fid to 16s 94 a case; Auckland, 2s to 2s 4d per lb.