POTATO MARKET

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 1

POTATO MARKET

- CHRISTCHURCH. Juno 10. This morning there was little change in the potato market, but in the afternoon Sydney inquiries commenced to come in for June potatoes, and sales were made at £i os, the equivalent of £<; ss, for coastal delivery. July potatoes for coastal trade arc quoted at £(i 15s to £7. Farmers arc not con-

sidering offers of under £5 os on trucks for the current month for politicos for export. The Kalon is hooked to leave for Auckland to-night, the Kaiinanawa on Thursday, and the Wingatui at the end of the week. Tt is unlikely that they will lake more than very light cargoes. The Karetu is hooked to sail for Australia on the. Blth. Rlio is practically a potato boat on this trip, and as space has been cut down, it is nppnrnet that she is taking a substantial cargo. An estimate from Lyttelton and southern ports is ”0,1)111 sacks. Space has already boon reserved for tho later vessel. G is rather remarkable that shipments from Lyttelton to the end of May are less this year than last, approximately 08.000 sacks. as against 72.000 last year, However. heavier export ha- taken place from southern ports. It is estimated that Australian vessiols took from till ports 28.000 sacks to the end of Mnv, ol which about 111,000 were from the south. A further 30,000 sacks arc probable in two June vessels.

As throwing an interest sidelight on the position, no potatoes w>ont to Australia last year before the first week in August. The market this afternoon showed a distinct revival. Those operators who threshed if down to C 5 -Is for June potatoes and £5 10s for July will be disposed to regret their overselling. Australian wheat prices have eased, and it is understood that 7s a bushel on trucks is not offering locally. According to threshing returns there will he a better crop than the official estimate by 350,000 bushels, hut this makes no difference as far as the need for importation is concerned.