COMMERCIAL

Evening Star, Issue 24328, 17 October 1942, Page 6

COMMERCIAL

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. A small shipment of Valencia oranges has reached the market,, and supplies had to be rationed to retailers. The fruit arrived in good condition. ■ The prospects of any further supplies from overseas are not very bright. A shipment of lemons which has reached the market was in indifferent condition. Small lots of .pears are available ox cool forward, and these are now being rationed to retailers. It is understood that there arc only sufficient stocks of apples left to keep the market going for auotljer mouth. These, too, will have to be rationed to retailors. Only Delicious and Stunners are now available. Small lots of pears are available ex cool stores. It is expected that supplies will be finished in about a fortnight’s time. Pears have been off the market in the north for some considerable time. Hothouse tomatoes are arriving from Blenheim and Canterbury and there are also a few locally grown. High prices are still being obtained in the wholesale marts. Hothouse cucumbers arc also available in small lots. The vegetable market has been erratic, prices varying from day to day, according to the supplies on offer. Cabbages are in heavy supply. Cauliflowers are not so plentiful, end the market was firm at the week-end. Choice quality lettuce have a good inquiry; inferior are slow of sale. The rnarkef'for carrots has shown a sharp increase during the week. Parsnips are in short supply. • Green peas are in better supply from Waimate, and the market was slightly easier at the week-end. Only one small line of Nelson-grown new potatoes has reached the market during the past few weeks, and with the Government fixed prices ruling it is not expected that further supplies will come from that province. It is understood that it is more profitable for Nelson growers to ship their potatoes to Wellington, as the transport charges are less than would be the case if they were sent to Dunedin. Locallygrown new potatoes should be making an appearance on the market shortly, but many growers say that they intend to leave their crops in the ground until they are fully matured,- as the Government fixed wholesale price for the month of October runs out at 4£d lb. Usually the wholesale prices of Peninsula-grown potatoes for the month of October are from 6d to 9d lb, as the supplies available are small. Wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples.—Delicious, 12s to 17s 6d per case, according to count; Stunners, 10s 6d to 15s 6d. Pears.—Dessert, 10s per half-case. Hothouse Tomatoes. —New season’s, to 4s 3d lb. Lemons. —Australian. 29s 6d to 36s 6d, according to count. Oranges, 41s fid to 46s 6d per case, according to count. Lettuce.—Choice, 2s to 3s 6d per dozen; others, Is to Is 6d. Carrots, 6s to 7s per sugar bag. Cucumbers, 9s to 16s per dozen. Asparagus, 12s to 16s per dozen bunches. Green peas, to lid lb. Leeks, 5d to 8d per bundle. Celery, Is to Is 6d per dozen heads. Spring cabbages, Is 6d to 2s 6d per case. Spinach, 2s to 5s per dozen bunches. Rhubarb, 2s 6d to 3s per dozen bunches; loose, li-d to 2d lb. Cauliflowers.—Choice, 5s to 8s 6d per sack. Beetroot, to 2s per dozen bunches. Parsnips, to 7s per sugar bag. Swedes, Is 9d to 2s per sugar bag. NATIONAL BUILDING SOCIETY. The annual report of the National Building Society, to be presented to shareholders on October 29, states that, although many members were now serving with the armed forces, subscriptions and repayments had been paid regularly. During the year 27 members had withdrawn their subscriptions, the amount paid out totalling £3,633 5s Bd, and subscriptions were also further reduced by the sum of £1,275 6s, representing the amount transferred by members to their loan accounts. The assets of the society now totalled £40,737 Os Bd, and liabilities were nil. The sum of £4,800 was appropriated during the period under review, £4,000 by ballot and £BOO by sale. Premiums (endered by members successful in obtaining loans by sale averaged approximately £ls per £IOO, equivalent to an interest rate at 2J per cent. MINING. A report from the Una Hill Consolidated Gold Mines Ltd. states that the winze has been sunk 18ft from the low level, with good colours and dabs of gold showing in the stringers. No. 2 reef has been located, and further sinking will continue on this reef. A trial crushing will be put through within the next few weeks.

The Snowy River dredge return this week was loOoz for 119 hours, 237,000 yards. Maori Gold, 320 z for 128 hours, 14,500 yards.— Groymouth Press Association.