COMMERCIAL

Evening Star, Issue 24334, 24 October 1942, Page 6

COMMERCIAL

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Supplies ot apples are very short, and have to be rationed to retailers. A few pears, are still arriving ex cool store. Some of the fruit is in a wasty condition. Canterburv-grown hothouse tomatoes are in better supply. Prices have receded a little from last week, but'remain on a high level. A small shipment of Fiji bananas arrived during the week, and was rationed to retailers. The cases in which the fruit was packed were badly knocked about during transport from the north, and practically every case had to be repaired. The bananas, however, were in good condition and are ripening up well. Choice quality lettuces are selling, readily. The market for cauliflowers is unchanged. Heavy supplies of cabbages are on offer. Carrots are in shorter supply. Cucumbers and asparagus are. still on offer from Canterbury. Green peas are still arriving from Waimate ■ There is no sign of new potatoes coming to' the market. A fair quantity of old potatoes was on offer during the week. Wholesale prices are as follows: Apples: Delicious and Stunners, all sizes, 33s 6d per case. ■ Pears; Dessert, 10s per half-case. Hothouse tomatoes; New season’s, 3s 6d to 3s lOd per lb Oranges, lemons, bananas, sold out. Lettuce; Choice, 2s 6d to 4s 6d per dozen; others Is to Is 6d. Carrots,, to 7s 6d per sugar bag. Cucumbers, 9s to 16s per dozen. Asparagus, 12s to 14s per dozen bunches. Green peas, to Ed per lb. Leeks, 5d to Ed per bundle. Spring cabbages, Is 6d to 2s 6d per case. Spinach, 2s to 2s per dozen bunches. Rhubarb, 2d to 3|d per lb. Cauliflowers: Choice, 5s to 8s per sack. Beetroot, to 2s per dozen bunches. • Parsnips. 7s 6d per sugar bag. Swedes, Is 9d ,to 2s per sugar bag. PRICE OF EGGS. The Government wholesale prices are as follows Heavy, Is per dozen; standard, Is Ed; medium. Is 4d. .The retail .prices, are respectively Is lid, Is BAd; and Is Ed. POTATO STOCKS. According to reports received from Wellington, stocks of potatoes which were held by merchants are to be released by the Government for distribution to retailers. It is apparent that the requirements of the Government are-now covered until the' new crop, is available. With favourable growing conditions and an absence of frosts, there should be good crops of earl}’ potatoes. If the crops turn, out as well as is expected, the maximum prices allowed to be charged to consumers will, no doubt, be found to be an unnecessary precaution. MINING. The Snowy River dredge return this week was 141ioz for. 120 hours, 24,000 yards.— Grcymouth Press Association.