COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1921, Page 4

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

11101 l COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 31. The Department of Agriculture has received the following telegram, dated January 29th, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. Meat.—The market is quiet. Supplies of good quality are light, and prices are:—Reef Is dpi, mutton Is 10d land) 2s 2d per lb. Jn imported, good trade is noticeable. There is a shortage of chilled beef, New Zealand ox hinds realising about IO.Jd, and fores 7:{d per lb. Lamb is short.

Butter.—The next Government distribution at £l4 18s 8d i>er cwt, and 2s 8d per lb wholesale, will be made on February 28th. The trade has been notified that application need not be limited to the two ounces ration basis. Irish is in better demand at £l4 10s to Old 10s per cwt, and 2s 7d to 2s 9d per lb. The market for Danish is depressed. Purchases for the United Kingdom continue to be made at falling prices.

Cheese.—The market is quiet but steady. English, finest farmers’, £8 to 09 per cwt., Is dd to Is 7d per lb. There is a fair demand for a cheaper quality. For Candian there is a moderate demand at the last rates, namely, £7 Us to £7 18s per cwt, approximately Is 4Jd per lb for white and £7 18s to £8 per cwt, approximately Is dd per lb, for coloured. Regarding New Zealand cheese, the Tainui shipment is good quality, and will meet a good market when available. Best coloured, on spot, has been sold for £8 per cwt, and Is dd per lb; white £7 ids per cwt, Is 41 d per lb. Hemp.—The Manila market is inactive and prices are again lower. “J” grade, January-Mareh shipment, sold at £.33 per ton. Present quotations are:—October-Deeember to JanuaryMareh shipment, £52 10s. per ton; February-April shipment, £d2 per ton, New Zealand high points and fair, a float, have been sold for L'dO 10s per ton. Present quotations are:—Sellers’ high points, on spot, £53 per ton; lair, £.31 per ton; January-Mareh shipment, £.31 and £49 per ton respectively.

Wool.—This week’s free sales were fully attended, and the few New Zealand crossbreds on offer were disposed of at about 10 per cent to 20 per cent below the December prices for similar Government wool, at say, Bpl to Is 4d per lb.